The Permanent Sovereignty of the Republic of Burundi over its Natural Resources: Renegotiation of Mining Contracts

 This article examines the current aspects of legal regulation of the implementation of the right of the Republic of Burundi to sovereignty over natural resources, which are becoming especially significant in the context of the growing interest of transnational corporations in the local mining sector. Increasing competition for access to minerals with high economic value requires a revision of the terms of existing agreements and strengthening the legal protection of the national interests of the state and its population.
The purpose of this article is to identify and analyze the legal grounds that determine the possibility and necessity of revising the terms of mining agreements between the Government of Burundi and foreign investors. The practical significance of the study lies in the formation of a theoretical and legal framework that will allow the effective use of contractual regulation tools in the field of mineral extraction. This, in turn, will allow Burundi to protect economic and social interests, minimizing the risk of conflicts and promoting stability in relations with foreign investors. The results of the study reflect the fact that the presence and correct use of special clauses on the revision of contract terms is mutually beneficial for both parties. These findings can contribute to the improvement of the legislation of Burundi and other African countries in a similar situation, ensuring a balance between national interests and the attractiveness of the investment field.

1. Gümplová P. Sovereignty over natural resources – A normative reinterpretation // Global Constitutionalism. 2019. Vol. 9. № 1. P. 7–37. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S2045381719000224

2. Устав ООН // United Nations. URL: https://www.un.org/ru/about-us/un-charter/full-text.

3. Резолюция 1803 (XVII) Генеральной Ассамблеи ООН о неотъемлемом суверенитете над естественными ресурсами. URL: https://legal.un.org/avl/pdf/ha/ga_1803/ga_1803_ph_r.pdf

4. Венская конвенция о праве международных договоров. URL: https://www.un.org/ru/documents/decl_conv/conventions/law_treaties.shtml

5. Боголюбов С.А. Суверенитет России на ее природные ресурсы // Теоретические проблемы отраслей права. 2016. № 6 (115). С. 10–25.

6. Принципы международных коммерческих договоров, УНИДРУА. 2016. URL: https://www.unidroit.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/UnidroitPrinciples-2016-Russian-bl.pdf

7. Аналитика, Контракты, Lex Mercatoria. URL: https://miripravo.ru/

8. Федеральный закон от 15.07.1995 г. № 101-ФЗ «О международных договорах Российской Федерации» // СПС КонсультантПлюс.

9. La convention minière entre l’Etat du Burundi et la société NTEGA Holding Burundi S.A. URL: https://www.amjamboafrica.com/burundi-suspendsmultinational-mining-contracts/

10. Crawford J., Brownlie I., Brownlie’s Principles of Public International Law. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2019. URL: https://books.google.ru/books/about/Brownlie_s_Principles_of_Public_Internat.html?id=pjmdDwAAQBAJ&redir_esc

11. François Campagnola, Le fait et le temps: force majeure et imprévision en droit des contrats, 2016. URL: https://www.village///justice.com/articles/

12. Protocole sur la Lutte contre l’Exploitation Illégale des Ressources Naturelles dans la sous-région des grands-lacs, 2006. URL: https://ungreatlakes.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/cirgl_protocole_sur_la_lutte_contre_lexploitation_illegale_des_ressources_naturelles.pdf

13. Schrijver N.J. Sovereignty over natural resources: balancing rights and duties in an interdependent world, 1995. URL: https://pure.rug.nl/ws/portalfiles/portal/3265518/dissertatie.pdf

14. Case LIAMCO v Libye 1980 (62) ILR, p. 160. URL: https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/482/1175/2095591/

15. La Loi No 1/19 Du 04 Aout 2023 Portant Modification de la Loi No 1/21 Du 15 Octobre Portant Code Minier du Burundi. URL: https://presidence.gov.bi/2023/08/10/loi-no1-19-du-04-aout-2023-portantmodification-de-la-loi-no1-21-du-15-octobre-2013-portant-code-minier-du-burundi//

16. Дмитриева Г.К., Викторова Н.Н. Суверенитет государства в контексте привлечения иностранных инвестиций // Актуальные проблемы российского права. 2018. № 12 (97). С. 26–38. DOI: 10.17803/1994-1471.2018.97.12.026-038.

17. Вашингтонская Конвенция 1965 г. о порядке разрешения инвестиционных споров между государствами и иностранными лицами. URL: http://www.arbitrations.ru/userfiles/file/Law/Treaty/icsid%20convention%20russian.pdf