Bujumbura, Burundi — Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest industrialist, has opened formal negotiations to establish cement, power and agriculture projects in Burundi after meeting President Évariste Ndayishimiye last June, according to local reports.
The one — day visit, which former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo attended, produced two technical teams drawn from the Dangote Group and Burundian ministries. Official statements indicate the teams have 90 days to complete feasibility studies on building a cement plant and on-site power generation, with preliminary talks also covering large-scale farming.
Dangote used the encounter to repeat a long — held pledge that his company “will invest only in Africa and nowhere else,” putting the Burundi move alongside existing cement plants in 10 African states and planned ventures in four more.
The government stated in a communiqué that it will grant tax holidays and lease state land to secure the projects, estimating they could create around 3,000 direct jobs and cut the domestic cement price by roughly one quarter. At present, Burundi imports 70 percent of its cement from Tanzania and Kenya.
Officials have not yet disclosed the investment value.
Independent observers say the country’s low electricity supply—installed capacity is below 100 megawatts—could require Dangote to finance its own power plant before production begins, potentially stretching the final investment decision into 2026. Civil-society groups warn that quarries for limestone and land allocations for agriculture may revive past land-rights disputes unless compensation agreements are reached in advance.
Further details are expected after the technical teams submit their findings next month.
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Source: Africa.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 4*
