Burundi has taken a major step toward modernising its financial sector with the launch of BurundiPay, a national instant payment platform designed to enable real-time transfers and payments across banks, microfinance institutions and mobile money providers. The initiative marks a significant milestone in the country’s digital transformation agenda and aims to expand access to formal financial services.
Officially launched by the Banque de la République du Burundi (BRB) on April 23, BurundiPay allows users to send and receive money instantly, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, using either bank accounts or mobile wallets. The platform creates interoperability across financial institutions, eliminating the need for customers to withdraw cash when transferring funds between different providers.
Built on the internationally recognised ISO 20022 financial messaging standard, BurundiPay has been integrated with the country’s existing real-time gross settlement and clearing infrastructure. The system is expected to improve the efficiency, security and reliability of digital transactions while laying the groundwork for future regional payment integration.
A key feature of the platform is its accessibility. In addition to smartphone applications, BurundiPay supports transactions through USSD technology, allowing users with basic mobile phones to access digital payment services without an internet connection. This approach is intended to address the country’s relatively low internet penetration and extend financial services to underserved rural communities.
The project was developed with support from the World Bank-backed Digital Economy Foundations Support Project (PAFEN), reflecting broader efforts to strengthen Burundi’s digital economy and promote financial inclusion. By connecting banks, microfinance institutions and payment service providers through a single network, the platform is expected to help reduce cash dependency and encourage wider participation in the formal financial system.
Industry observers note that the long-term success of BurundiPay will depend on factors such as merchant acceptance, consumer trust and the expansion of agent networks capable of supporting cash-in and cash-out services. However, the launch positions Burundi among a growing number of African countries deploying instant payment systems to modernise financial services and support digital commerce.
As the country seeks to accelerate economic development and digital adoption, officials view BurundiPay as a critical piece of infrastructure that can improve financial accessibility, increase transaction efficiency and support future regional integration initiatives.