Dangote Group expands African investment empire with Burundi

Dangote Group, led by Africa’s wealthiest businessman, Aliko Dangote, is once again positioning himself at the center of the continent’s economic transformation, following a strategic visit to Burundi where he explored new investment frontiers alongside former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Dangote’s meeting with Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye at the presidential palace went beyond ceremonial diplomacy. 

According to the billionaire industrialist, the trip was designed as a dual-purpose mission blending diplomatic engagement with serious economic negotiations aimed at expanding his conglomerate’s footprint across Africa.

My visit was in two parts; one was a courtesy visit to His Excellency. Being my first time to Burundi, we had a very good discussion,” Dangote said during a briefing

Technical teams to turn talks into projects

Dangote revealed that concrete steps are already underway to translate discussions into tangible investments. 

He announced plans for two joint technical teams, one representing the Burundian government and the other from the Dangote Group, to identify viable sectors and develop bankable projects.

This structured approach reflects Dangote’s signature investment strategy: large-scale industrial ventures backed by feasibility studies, local partnerships, and long-term financing models.

The Burundi discussions form part of a broader continental expansion strategy that has seen Dangote extend its influence across multiple regions of Africa.

Just last week, Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority confirmed that the country is considering fuel imports from the Dangote Refinery due to its limited domestic refining capacity, an endorsement that underscores the refinery’s growing role as a regional energy hub.

Meanwhile, Cameroon’s state-owned oil refinery, SONARA, has opened talks with the Dangote Group to explore both financing and supply arrangements to restart operations halted since a devastating fire in 2019.