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Burundi tax receipts soar 31 pct in June from a year ago when unrest was rife

Burundi's tax receipts soared in June, official data showed on Wednesday, rising 31 percent compared to the same month in 2015 when a political crisis and unrest would have hampered tax collection.

The landlocked east African nation's president, Pierre Nkurunziza, sought and won a third term last year to fierce opposition. More than 450 people have been killed in related violence since then and 260,000 have fled abroad.

No explanation was given for the surge in tax revenues, but June 2015 saw tensions mount before a parliamentary election at the end of that month and a presidential poll in July.

Tax receipts rose to 57.1 billion francs ($34.4 million) in June, higher than a target of 53.9 billion francs, the semi-autonomous revenue board (OBR) said in its monthly report.

Cumulative tax collection from January to June climbed to 302.7 billion francs from 288.3 billion francs the same period last year.

The European Union and other key donors have suspended some aid to Burundi, which relies on modest coffee and tea revenues.

Burundi has since been seeking closer ties with Russia, signing a deal last month with Russia's Gazprombank to facilitate investment.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects Burundi's economic growth at 3.4 percent this year after shrinking 7.2 percent in 2015.

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