Practice Areas — IP, OHADA & Business Law in Burundi

To register a trademark in Burundi, you file an application with the Burundi Industrial Property Office under the Ministry of Trade. The process requires a clear representation of the mark, a list of goods or services classified under the Nice Classification, and proof of payment of official fees. Registration typically takes 8–12 months if no opposition is filed, and grants 10 years of protection (renewable). For multi-country protection across Africa, you can also file a single application through ARIPO covering Burundi and other member states. Mavebo handles the full process from search to registration.

OHADA — the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa — is a treaty that unifies business law across 17 African member states, including Burundi. Its Uniform Acts cover company formation, commercial transactions, securities, insolvency, and arbitration. Yes, OHADA law directly applies to any business operating in Burundi, and it overrides conflicting national rules. This means a company set up in Bujumbura follows the same core corporate framework as one in Côte d’Ivoire or Senegal — a significant advantage for cross-border operations.

es. Burundi allows 100% foreign ownership in most sectors, with no general requirement for a local partner. Investors register their company under OHADA’s Uniform Act on Commercial Companies (SA, SARL, or SAS structures) and obtain investment approval through the Burundi Investment Promotion Authority (API). Strategic sectors such as banking, insurance, mining, and telecoms may require additional sector-specific licenses. Mavebo guides foreign investors through company formation, tax registration, work permits, and ongoing OHADA compliance.

A trademark filed through ARIPO under the Banjul Protocol is typically registered within 9–14 months if no opposition is raised. A single application covers up to 22 ARIPO member states, including Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda — making it significantly faster and cheaper than filing separately in each country. The mark must be registrable in each designated state, so a pre-filing clearance search is strongly recommended. Mavebo conducts the search and prosecutes the application through to registration on your behalf.

OHADA arbitration is governed by the OHADA Uniform Act on Arbitration and administered by the Common Court of Justice and Arbitration (CCJA) in Abidjan. Burundian companies can include an OHADA arbitration clause in their contracts to resolve disputes outside national courts, with awards directly enforceable across all 17 OHADA member states. The process is typically faster than litigation (6–18 months), confidential, and conducted in French or English. Mavebo drafts enforceable arbitration clauses and represents clients in OHADA proceedings before the CCJA and ad-hoc tribunals.