On 25 May, Burundi’s electoral commission announced that the ruling party candidate, retired general Evariste Ndayishimiye, had won last week’s presidential election with 69 percent of votes cast and an 88 percent turnout. The initial results make the prospect of a run-off vote highly unlikely. The election went ahead despite outbreaks of electoral violence, international criticism of political processes, and a local public health emergency. Opposition parties and rights groups have criticised the electoral process, undermining the credibility and legitimacy of the vote, while accusing the government and affiliated militia of extrajudicial violence and other abuses.
While political openness and vibrancy has continued to recede in Burundi, the economy has shown moderate growth primarily as a result of mining and continued favourable weather conditions that have boosted agricultural production, namely coffee
Looking at the former, Burundi stands to benefit significantly from the global trade in rare earths, once global demand recovers, as it boasts the only active rare earths mine in Africa – the Gankara Mine operated by Rainbow Rare Earths.
Rainbow Rare Earths Ltd (LON:RBW) is a mining company focussed on production from, and expansion of, the high grade Gakara Rare Earth Project in Burundi, East Africa. With in-situ grades in the range of 47-67% Total Rare Earth Oxide (TREO), Gakara is one of the world’s richest rare earth deposits.