ANBU
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Terms of Service

Last updated: February 2026

Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using ANBU (Archives Nationales du Burundi), you agree to these Terms of Service. If you do not agree, please do not use the platform. You must be 18 or older to create an account.

About ANBU

ANBU is a digital archive platform operated by MBUYU, a US-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, in partnership with ABADBU (Association of Librarians, Archivists and Recordkeepers of Burundi). Our mission is to digitize, preserve, and provide access to Burundi's national archival heritage.

Access Tiers

Public Access (No Account Required)

Browse and search the archive catalog. View watermarked preview images. Access publicly available metadata.

Citizen Access (Free, Account Required)

Available to verified Burundian citizens and diaspora. Provides full-resolution unwatermarked images. Requires identity verification.

Researcher Access (Paid, Account Required)

Available to researchers, journalists, and institutions. Provides high-resolution scans and advanced features. Subscription processed via Stripe.

Institutional Access

Custom agreements for universities, libraries, and partner institutions. Contact us for details.

Intellectual Property

Archival Content

The documents digitized by ANBU are historical government records of Burundi. Copyright status varies by document age, type, and applicable law. Many documents may be in the public domain due to age or government authorship. ANBU makes reasonable efforts to identify copyright status but does not guarantee the accuracy of rights assessments. Users are responsible for determining copyright status before use.

Metadata

All catalog metadata (titles, dates, descriptions, classifications) created by ANBU is published under Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. You may freely reuse this metadata without restriction.

Platform Content

The ANBU website design, logos, branding, and original text content are copyrighted by MBUYU. Open-source components are governed by their respective licenses.

Permitted Uses

  • Personal research and education.
  • Academic citation and publication with proper attribution.
  • Journalism and media with attribution.
  • Non-commercial cultural and educational projects.
  • Genealogical and family history research.

Prohibited Uses

  • Misrepresenting the origin or context of archival documents.
  • Using archival content to harass, defame, or harm individuals or communities.
  • Circumventing watermarks, access controls, or authentication mechanisms.
  • Scraping or automated bulk downloading beyond your access tier.
  • Redistribution of full-resolution images without authorization.
  • Using the platform for any illegal purpose.

Citation

When using ANBU materials in publications or other works, please use the following format:

[Document Title], [Date]. Archives Nationales du Burundi. Accessed via ANBU, [access date].

Cultural Sensitivity

Some archival documents may contain content reflecting the historical context of their creation, including colonial-era language or references to sensitive events in Burundi's history. ANBU encourages respectful and contextually informed use of all archival materials.

ANBU may restrict access to specific documents containing sensitive personal information for a defined closure period. Users who identify potentially sensitive content may report it for review.

Payments and Subscriptions

Researcher access subscription fees are processed by Stripe. Pricing is published on the platform and may change with 30 days' notice to existing subscribers. Subscription fees are payments for services and are not tax-deductible donations. Separate donation options are available on the Support page.

Disclaimer of Warranties

ANBU is provided "as is" and "as available." We make no warranties regarding the accuracy of metadata, completeness of the archive, copyright status of documents, or uninterrupted availability of the service. Archival documents are historical records and may contain errors or biases inherent to their original creation.

Limitation of Liability

MBUYU shall not be liable for damages arising from use or inability to use the platform, errors in archival metadata, copyright disputes arising from user's use of materials, or service interruptions. Total liability is capped at the amount paid by the user in the 12 months preceding the claim.

Account Termination

ANBU may suspend or terminate accounts for violations of these Terms. Users may delete their accounts at any time through account settings. Upon termination, access to restricted content ceases immediately.

Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the United States. In the event of conflict between language versions, the English version shall prevail.

Changes to These Terms

ANBU may update these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated 30 days in advance via email and platform notice. Continued use after the effective date constitutes acceptance.

Contact

For legal inquiries, contact us at legal@mbuyu.org.