Burundi plans to digitize its civil registry system with biometric IDs 🇧🇮 🪪

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Burundi’s Ministry of the Interior, Community Development and Public Security has announced plans to launch a digital platform aimed at modernizing the country’s civil registry system. The initiative is designed to improve the preservation and management of administrative documents while supporting the rollout of a new biometric national ID card model. The announcement was made on May 6.

A platform to strengthen identity management 🔐

The future digital system is expected to improve the security of citizens’ administrative data. Through the new biometric ID card announced by the authorities, the government hopes to combat identity theft, document forgery and administrative fraud.

Civil registry records — including birth, marriage and death certificates — will also be integrated into the modernization effort in order to improve their traceability and long-term preservation.

According to Burundian authorities, the system is technically ready and now only awaits a government decree before it can officially launch and be deployed nationwide.

The connectivity challenge 🌐

However, this digital leap forward faces a major on-the-ground reality: Burundi’s Internet penetration rate was estimated at 11.1% by the end of 2025, one of the lowest levels in the region. Such limited connectivity could slow the adoption of these new digital services among a large portion of the population.

Is the digitization of Burundi’s civil registry a realistic priority given the country’s low Internet access rate? Let us know in comments.