Burundi's solar plans forge ahead despite political unrest

As violence erupts in the capital, plans for the country's first major solar plant bring hope to thousands whose lives will be transformed by electricity

When entrepreneurs and government ministers signed a deal for the first major solar power plant in Burundi, the future of this energy-crippled nation seemed full of promise. A day later, gunfire filled the streets and buildings were set ablaze as a renegade army general attempted a coup.

Such are the peculiar challenges of harnessing renewable energy in one of the more unstable corners of Africa. "We were so excited," recalled Lazare Sebitereko, programme manager in Burundi for the solar and social development company Gigawatt Global. "It was upsetting because we wanted to get on with our programme. We didn't stop completely but it's slow compared to what we expected."