2023-04-20 12:01:07
The Burundian Civil State still issues paper identity cards. Cheating is observed in the granting of this document where an individual can hold more than two identity cards of different origins. To discourage this cheating, the current authorities are initiating a biometric identity card project. The project is at an advanced stage according to the Minister of the Interior
Martin Niteretse, Minister of the Interior: “A draft law on the issuance of the biometric identity card is being prepared”. (Photo: Akezanet)
The project to produce biometric identity cards was on the agenda of the meeting of April 13, 2023 that Martin Niteretse, Minister of the Interior, Community Development and Public Security held with officials of the projects carried out by this ministry with UNDP support. The Minister says that this project is at an advanced stage.
« People cheat in this area “says Martin Niteretse. According to him, a bill on the issuance of the biometric identity card is being prepared because it requires a security law.
Mr. Niteretse informs that the technicians of the ministry in charge of community development will carry out visits to exchange experiences in the countries of West Africa, in particular Cameroon and Benin. The departure of these technicians is scheduled for the beginning of May 2023, says Mr. Niteretse. According to him, software for designing biometric cards is already available. ” We are in the resource mobilization phase for the purchase of equipments”. He added that the government has a promise from the World Bank and permanent support from the UNDP for the implementation of this project.
After the production of reports on experiences elsewhere in this digitalization system, the steps that will follow include the adoption of this bill in parliament and its promulgation by the President of the Republic.
The desire to digitize the identity card by the Burundian authorities has existed for a long time, but it has never materialized. In 2013, registrations had already been started for obtaining biometric identity cards.
In October 2021, the Head of State Evariste Ndayishimiye received in audience a delegation of American investors. The latter wanted to collaborate with the government of Burundi through their company IOHK “ which has made a name for itself in the areas of digitalization, youth and women empowerment as well as financing of small and medium enterprises ».
The Head of State informed them that Burundi needs to digitize the production of the National Biometric Identity Card and the next population, agriculture and livestock census.
In a press conference on Wednesday April 19, Mr. Niteretse plans to issue the first biometric identity cards by the end of 2023 in the pilot municipalities.
What about civil status documents?
The minister in charge of local development indicates that the digitization of civil status documents has already been implemented in 11 pilot municipalities. ” We had success “, he explains while revealing nevertheless that this project faces the problems of connection to the Internet and lack of electricity. “BBS’s fiber optics are not very close to municipal offices.” The repetitive power cuts cause the machines to be slow to restart. To cut short with the challenge related to electricity, Martin Niteretse reassures that solutions have been considered, in particular the recourse to the use of solar energy.
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