Investigation into Influence Networks and Governance Risks within the Ministry of Public Finance
In this new phase of its investigation into governance risks within the Ministry of Public Finance, our organization revisits a number of events that have occurred since 2023 involving the activities of MEDIABOX and its director, Mr. Donatien NDAYISHIMIYE.
According to information gathered by the organization, several mechanisms appear to have been progressively established with the objective of influencing the awarding of public contracts related to public financial management information systems, in a context marked by the launch of the SIGEFP/SIGFP-BI project, financed through the World Bank’s PAFEN Program.
The investigation focuses in particular on risks affecting the use of approximately USD 30 million allocated to modernize Burundi’s public financial management system.
From the ASYST–MEDIABOX Conflict to Control of the PTBA Project
According to information collected during the investigation, the arrest of Mr. Amedée BWIMBA, Managing Director of ASYST, in June 2023 marked a major turning point in the reorganization of information technology contracts within the Ministry of Finance.
Shortly after his arrest and transfer to the National Intelligence Service, MEDIABOX reportedly obtained the contract relating to the PTBA (Annual Work Plan and Budget) project for an estimated amount of two billion Burundian francs (BIF 2,000,000,000).
This contract award raised numerous questions, given that ASYST had initially proposed to implement the same project for approximately one billion Burundian francs (BIF 1,000,000,000).
Several observers viewed this development as evidence of an influence network involving certain institutional officials reportedly close to Mr. Donatien NDAYISHIMIYE, particularly during the tenure of former Minister of Finance Audace NIYONZIMA.
Administrative Dysfunction and the Multiplication of Information Systems
Following the award of the contract to MEDIABOX, several operational difficulties reportedly emerged within the Ministry of Finance.
The Ministry found itself operating multiple parallel information systems:
SIGEFI, developed by ASYST;
OPENRH, used for human resources management;
PTBA, developed by MEDIABOX under the Program Budgeting framework.
According to several technicians interviewed, ASYST’s original proposal was to integrate the new functionalities directly into the SIGEFI platform in order to ensure centralized and coherent management.
The coexistence of several separate software systems reportedly resulted in significant administrative delays. Staff members were allegedly required to perform duplicate operations, leading to delays in the processing of financial files and the payment of public servants.
Several officials have also referred to the emergence of significant outstanding payment obligations (“restes à payer”) for the 2024–2025 fiscal years.
Contract Amendments and Controversial Expenditures
According to the investigation’s findings, despite being awarded the contract, MEDIABOX reportedly failed to complete the PTBA project within the initially agreed timeframe.
The company subsequently requested an additional contract amendment valued at approximately 200 million Burundian francs (BIF 200,000,000) in order to continue software development under the 2024–2025 budget.
In addition, MEDIABOX already maintained an office within the Ministry of Finance to provide training for technicians responsible for operating the PTBA system.
According to several internal sources, this knowledge-transfer component had already been included in the company’s original contractual obligations.
Despite this, an additional allocation estimated at approximately 24 million Burundian francs (BIF 24,123,000) was reportedly approved to finance further training activities described as “capacity building” or “knowledge transfer.”
This training was eventually organized in March 2026 in Gitega.
These expenditures raise several important questions:
Why were activities already included in the original contract financed separately?
Were these disbursements subject to administrative oversight or an independent audit?
Why did the current Ministry of Finance leadership approve these additional expenditures?
The SIGEFP Project and the Stakes Surrounding USD 30 Million
As part of broader administrative reforms, particularly those linked to budget decentralization and territorial reorganization, the authorities reportedly considered implementing a unified system capable of integrating all software platforms used in public financial management.
It was within this context that the SIGEFP (Integrated Public Financial Management System) project emerged, with the objective of consolidating:
SIGEFI;
OPENRH;
PTBA-related modules.
The project was expected to be financed through approximately USD 30 million provided by the World Bank under the PAFEN (Support Project for the Foundations of the Digital Economy) program.
Award of the Contract to a Foreign Company and Subsequent Controversial Suspension
An international tender was reportedly launched on 14 March 2025 to select the company responsible for developing the new system.
Four companies participated in the procurement process:
Three foreign companies;
MEDIABOX, a Burundian company.
According to information collected by the organization, the contract was initially awarded to a Tunisian company.
The company reportedly received an official notification of award before the procurement process was abruptly suspended.
According to several sources, MEDIABOX challenged the results, claiming that it had been unfairly disadvantaged during the evaluation process.
Following this challenge, the procurement process was reportedly suspended with the intention of relaunching the tender entirely.
This situation raises several critical questions:
How could a contract that had already been awarded subsequently be challenged and suspended?
What influence mechanisms may have enabled the suspension of the procurement process?
Were public institutions used to advance private interests?
What risks do these practices pose to the management of funds provided by the World Bank?
Procurement Tender Document – 14 March 2025
The Alleged Role of Certain Institutional Officials
The investigation also examines the role played by certain officials involved in the implementation of the PAFEN project.
According to information gathered, the project is coordinated in Burundi by Mr. Bienvenu IRAKOZE, who also serves as Executive Secretary of SETIC (Executive Secretariat for Information and Communication Technologies).
Several sources describe him as a close collaborator of Mr. Donatien NDAYISHIMIYE.
Following the initial award of the contract to the Tunisian company, objections reportedly emerged regarding the functioning of the bid evaluation committee, particularly concerning quorum requirements and decision-validation procedures.
According to the organization, these arguments were subsequently used to justify suspending the procurement process and considering a relaunch of the tender.
Our organization announces that additional findings will be published in the forthcoming parts of this investigation, including information concerning the alleged mechanisms used to influence the relaunch of the procurement process and the potential consequences of these practices for Burundi’s public finances.