The Bank of the Republic of Burundi reported that its Governor, Edouard Normand Bigendako, delivered remarks at the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) during the 2025 International Monetary Fund and World Bank Annual Meetings on behalf of the Africa Group III Constituency, which includes 17 Sub-Saharan African countries. He focused on the pressures facing low-income countries in Africa amid heightened global uncertainty, narrowing fiscal space and declining official development assistance. The intervention highlighted the disproportionate impact of global trade tensions and rising protectionism and called for continued multilateral cooperation, faster debt restructuring and expanded concessional financing through multilateral development banks. It also stressed the need to safeguard central bank independence, strengthen oversight of non-bank financial institutions and digital assets, and advance structural reforms aimed at unlocking private-sector-led growth.
Bank of the Republic of Burundi 2025-10-27
Bank of the Republic of Burundi governor urges faster debt restructuring and stronger oversight of non-bank finance and digital assets at the IMFC
Governor Edouard Normand Bigendako of the Bank of the Republic of Burundi addressed the International Monetary and Financial Committee at the 2025 IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings, representing the Africa Group III Constituency. He highlighted challenges for low-income African countries due to global uncertainty, fiscal constraints, and reduced development aid, stressing the need for multilateral cooperation, expedited debt restructuring, enhanced concessional financing, and safeguarding central bank independence.