Ministry of the Interior, Community Development and Public Security

The Ministry of the Interior approves (agrément) and monitors national non-profit associations (ASBL) in Burundi, working with the relevant sector ministries. The 2017 law covers non-profit associations not governed by a specific law. It excludes mutual societies, political parties, foundations, professional bodies, cooperatives and religious denominations.

Under Law 1/02 of 2017 there are two routes. Associations that work in several provinces, collective-type associations, associations of foreigners and those seeking public-utility status must obtain approval (agrément) from the Ministry of the Interior. Other associations operate under a declaration regime at commune level and, according to civil society analyses, need two years of activity before they can seek approval. Civil society summaries of the law say the authority has two months to decide on a filing, with an appeal to the provincial governor if it does not respond. Organisations registered only at commune level are not counted in the national register. Foreign NGOs fall under a separate 2017 law on foreign NGOs.