Burundi has ordered the expulsion of David Leyssens, head of Enabel, Belgium’s development agency, after he shared a caricature online criticizing fuel shortages in the country. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Leyssens must leave Burundi by 6 September 2025. The caricature, originally published by The Continent, a South African weekly, mocked the lack of fuel and the rise of the black market. Authorities in Bujumbura viewed the post as offensive and unacceptable. Enabel manages projects worth around 120 million euros in Burundi over the next five years, focusing on health, education, a

Burundi has ordered the expulsion of David Leyssens, head of Enabel, Belgium’s development agency, after he shared a caricature online criticizing fuel shortages in the country. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Leyssens must leave Burundi by 6 September 2025. The caricature, originally published by The Continent, a South African weekly, mocked the lack of fuel and the rise of the black market. Authorities in Bujumbura viewed the post as offensive and unacceptable. Enabel manages projects worth around 120 million euros in Burundi over the next five years, focusing on health, education, and economic development. Belgium expressed regret over the expulsion. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “This is a decision based on personal matters expressed outside of his known official duties.” Belgium’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot cited by local media that Brussels hopes to open talks soon about Enabel’s future in Burundi. The move comes at a delicate time for relations between the two countries. Ties had been improving in recent months, especially after Minister Prévot’s visit to Burundi, where he and Burundian President, Ndayishimiye discussed the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

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