A government directive requiring landowners to digitalize their land titles by April 30, 2026, has sparked growing concern among civil society groups, opposition parties, and citizens, who warn that the timeline is too short and the system unprepared.
The order, issued earlier this month by the Office of Land Titles and the National Cadastre, calls on all holders of traditional land titles to submit original documents and complete payment procedures to obtain secure digital versions.
Authorities say the reform is part of a broader modernization effort tied to the 2025–2026 national framework and legal provisions governing land administration.
However, critics argue that the timeline is too short and risks exacerbating long-standing problems within the country’s land management system.
Structural Challenges and Public Distrust
In separate statements, civil society organizations and political actors pointed to deep-rooted institutional weaknesses, including allegations of corruption, document fraud, prolonged delays, and even the disappearance of land records within the land titles office.
“These are not new problems,” said Faustin Ndikumana, director of the anti-corruption group PARCEM, in a video posted on social media. “Rushing citizens to submit original documents in a system where files have historically gone missing is dangerous and could trigger widespread disputes.”
Residents have echoed these concerns. One landowner in Bujumbura said he has waited seven months for a land title without success. “They keep telling me to wait, but for how long?” he asked, expressing frustration over administrative delays.
Requirements and Costs
According to the official notice issued on March 17, applicants must submit the original land title along with a photocopy, identification documents, and—where applicable—a notarized power of attorney and tax identification number.
The current push follows a similar initiative launched in 2024 by the Ministries of Finance and Justice, which outlined a tiered fee structure based on land classification. Fees ranged from 150,000 Burundian francs per are for highly developed land to as low as 12,000 francs for rural areas, with a cap of 3 million francs per file.
Opposition parties have also criticized the directive, calling for greater transparency and more realistic deadlines.
Sahwanya-FRODEBU party warned that a decision of such magnitude—directly affecting property rights—requires broader public consultation and better communication. It also raised concerns about citizens who paid for land titles last year but have yet to receive them, saying this fuels “a sense of injustice and confusion.”
Another opposition group, the Alliance for Peace, Democracy and Reconciliation (APDR), questioned how the process would affect land titles currently held by banks as loan collateral. The party cautioned that unclear implementation could discourage compliance and destabilize financial institutions relying on such guarantees.
Risk of Social Tensions
Activists warn that the combination of tight deadlines, economic hardship, and institutional inefficiencies could lead to serious consequences.
“With the current economic situation, expecting citizens to mobilize funds and complete procedures within a month is unrealistic,” Ndikumana said. “This could create unnecessary social tensions.”
He called for an independent audit of the land titles office to assess unresolved cases, corruption risks, and operational inefficiencies before proceeding with reforms.
PARCEM does not oppose digitalization itself but urges a more cautious rollout, suggesting piloting the system with new land titles first, implementing reforms gradually by region, and ensuring transparency at every stage.
“Modernization is necessary,” Ndikumana said, “but it must be done carefully, step by step, and with the trust of the population.”
Efforts to obtain comment from the Office of Land Titles and the National Cadastre regarding the allegations were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
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