Mining Firm Launches Arbitration Against Burundi Over Concession Dispute

A mining dispute in Burundi has escalated to international arbitration, with Ntega Holding Burundi initiating proceedings against the Burundian government at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.

The arbitration filing, lodged on 6 January 2026, relates to a disagreement over a mining concession and follows the government’s decision in 2021 to suspend several international mining operations. The suspensions were part of a broader review of mining contracts, which authorities said did not provide the state with a fair share of profits. At the time, the government signalled its intention to renegotiate agreements to ensure greater economic benefit for the country.

As a result of the 2021 decision, Ntega Holding Burundi was reportedly ordered to halt its mining activities. The company operates as a public–private partnership with the Burundian state and holds a 25-year licence for large-scale mining of coltan and associated minerals at the Runyankezi site, located in Kirundo and Ngozi provinces in northern Burundi. The project has been regarded as a key component of the country’s emerging mining sector.

In August 2023, Burundi introduced a revised mining code, amending legislation dating back to 2013. The updated framework allowed for the resumption of mining activities that had been suspended since mid-2021 and introduced a requirement for the state to hold a 15% equity stake in all mining projects.

The earlier suspensions affected a range of foreign operators, including British, Chinese, and Russian companies. Among them was Rainbow Rare Earths, which operates the Gakara rare earths project in western Burundi. The company has been engaged in negotiations with the Burundian government regarding its own suspension, with the project remaining on care and maintenance at the government’s request as of 2025.

Ntega Holding Burundi is being represented in the ICSID proceedings by a London-based legal team from Hogan Lovells, led by partner Markus Burgstaller, alongside senior associate Iris Sauvagnac and associate Auriane Negret.

The case adds to a growing list of mining-related arbitration disputes in Africa. In November 2025, Barrick Mining resolved a long-running dispute with Mali over the Loulo and Gounkoto gold mines, with its operating subsidiaries withdrawing their ICSID claim following a settlement.

As African governments continue to reassess mining fiscal regimes and ownership structures, disputes such as Burundi’s highlight the delicate balance between attracting foreign investment and securing greater national benefit from mineral resources.