E-commerce in Burundi is governed by a framework of legislative and regulatory instruments covering e-commerce transactions, payment services related to e-commerce, consumer protection, cybersecurity, taxation, and the technical and regulatory compliance of e-commerce platforms.
The main applicable legal and regulatory instruments include:
- The Burundi Trade Act, which remains applicable to commercial activities conducted electronically, particularly with regard to the legal status of traders, contractual obligations, and rules of evidence.
- The Electonic and Postal Communications Code, which serves as a key legal instrument governing electronic transactions, including e-commerce. It establishes the general rules applicable to electronic communications, digital transactions, electronic signatures, digital services, and the obligations of the relevant stakeholders.
- The Pratical Guidelines of Burundi’s National E-Commerce Ecosystem, which serves as a reference document presenting the technical and operational aspects of e-commerce in a structured manner, as well as the interoperability mechanisms connecting the various platforms and local stakeholders involved in the ecosystem. The Guide establishes clear guidelines for secure e-commerce by defining the roles of all stakeholders and their interactions. It also describes how platforms, payment systems, logistics chains, product certification mechanisms, and regulatory and arbitration arrangements operate, with a view to ensuring fair consumer protection.
- The Guidelines of Burundi’s National E-Commerce Ecosystem, which constitute a national reference framework based on the regulations in force, international guidelines, and best practices. They were developed and harmonized through consensus among all stakeholders in Burundi’s National E-Commerce Ecosystem. The Guidelines define the technical, operational, and organizational standards applicable to the national e-commerce ecosystem, with the aim of ensuring interoperability, transparency, transaction security, and consumer protection.
- The Circular No. 008/SP/2026 on Payment Services within Burundi’s National E-Commerce Ecosystem, issued by the Bank of the Republic of Burundi (BRB), which establishes the rules applicable to electronic payments carried out in the context of e-commerce. It complements the Practical Guide and the Ecosystem Guidelines by specifying how payments must be initiated, secured, executed, and settled among the various parties involved..
- The Procedures Manual for Declaring the Commencement of an E-Commerce Activity in Burundi, which provides operational guidance on technical and regulatory compliance. It specifies the documents to be submitted, the declaration procedure, the assessment criteria, and the conditions to be met to obtain the Certificate of Compliance and the National Compliance Label issued by ARCT, as part of the process for operating in accordance with national requirements.
- The Law No. 1/03 of 10 March 2026 on the Protection of Personal Data, which establishes rules governing the collection, processing, storage, and protection of users’ and consumers’ personal data.
- The Law No. 1/10 of 16 March 2022 on the Prevention and Punishment of Cybercrime in Burundi, which aims to ensure the security of information systems, electronic transactions, and digital communications.