Published on 30 April 2026

Bilateral relations Switzerland–Burundi

Relations between Switzerland and Burundi are good and focus mainly on development cooperation through health and active youth programmes.

Key aspects of diplomatic relations

Swiss diplomacy in Burundi focuses primarily on development. Switzerland has a cooperation office there and runs a cooperation programme focusing on health and active youth.

Switzerland has adopted an Africa Strategy for 2025–28. In the Great Lakes region, which includes Burundi, Switzerland is engaged in development and peacebuilding. In Burundi, it promotes improvements in the health and well-being of the population. It contributes to accessible, high-quality health services, inclusive and efficient local governance and vocational training that encourages job creation.

Treaty database

Economic cooperation

Economic relations between Switzerland and Burundi are very limited. Burundian goods imported into Switzerland are mainly coffee.

Trade promotion, Switzerland Global Enterprise (SG-E)

Cooperation in education, research and innovation

Researchers who are citizens of Burundi can apply to the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships.

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists (SERI)

Development cooperation and humanitarian aid

Under the 2026–29 Switzerland-Burundi cooperation programme, Switzerland is committed to peace, stability and poverty reduction. It contributes to improving living conditions and social cohesion. It supports the strengthening of democratic processes, respect for human rights, access to quality health services and the economic integration of young people. Through the coordinated use of foreign policy instruments – diplomacy, development aid, peace and human rights promotion, humanitarian aid – Switzerland aims to strengthen the capacities of the people in the region.

Development cooperation and humanitarian aid

Swiss citizens in Burundi

According to statistics on the Swiss abroad, 28 Swiss citizens were living in Burundi at the end of 2024 and 528 Burundian citizens were living in Switzerland.

History of bilateral relations

Switzerland recognised Burundi on the day it declared independence in 1962. There was a Swiss consulate in Bujumbura from 1972 to 1990.

A bilateral development cooperation agreement was signed in 1969. It has enabled Switzerland to invest in various projects relating to infrastructure, crafts, health, social housing and agriculture.

This commitment was strengthened through Switzerland's humanitarian aid in the 1990s. The office initially opened in Bujumbura in 2001 was subsequently transformed into a cooperation office in 2007.

From 2006 to 2025, Burundi was included in the development cooperation programme for the Great Lakes region of East Africa. A bilateral cooperation programme was launched in Burundi in 2026.

Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (de, fr, it)

Diplomatic Documents of Switzerland, Dodis

Documents

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