Burundi Central Bank Governor Prosecuted for Alleged Corruption

According to a press release from the Ministry of Justice, the governor of the Central Bank of Burundi was detained and is now being held on suspicion of “passive corruption” and “misappropriation of public property.”

Dieudonné Murengerantwari, who was fired on Sunday, is being investigated for economic crimes like passive corruption, money laundering, and misappropriating government property. It is made clear in the press release that the charges’ description is tentative and is signed by Attorney General Leonard Manirakiza.

While having his rights respected, Murengerantwari is currently being questioned. He was given a five-year appointment and started in the job in August 2022.

Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye has demonstrated both openness and tight control of the government since taking office in 2020. Strong “generals” still maintain sway over the regime, and NGOs have reported violations of human rights. Pierre Nkurunziza, the authoritarian leader of the nation from 2005 till his passing in 2020, was followed by Ndayishimiye.

Alain-Guillaume Bunyoni, who served as Burundi’s prime minister from June 2020 to September 2022, was also detained in April and charged with endangering national security. In late September, his trial commenced.
The World Bank rates Burundi, a landlocked nation in the Great Lakes area, as the poorest nation in the world in terms of GDP per person. Its 12 million residents live below the global poverty line in almost 75% of cases.