Burundi: bonds, indices, credit ratings

The financial sector in Burundi is underdeveloped. This is in part the result of the countrys long civil war and the embargo (1996-98), which led to a severe economic contraction. As of October 2014, 10 commercial banks, 2 financial institutions and 27 microfinance institutions were listed. There are no capital markets and there is no stock exchange. The fixed-income securities market is limited to government securities issues; it was introduced in 1998 for the first time in an attempt to allow the establishment of market-driven interest rates and to widen the spectrum of financing means of the fiscal deficit. In 2007, the government made a second attempt at promoting the debt market, with the purpose of financing the borrowing requirements of the government. Currently, the issuance of government securities serve to finance the State budget and manage Treasury operations.