World Region Information --- Burundi Information
We are researching Burundi's local information. The Republic of Burundi is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley where the Great Lakes region of Africa and East Africa meet. We will feature information that seems good to know when entering Burundi.
It is bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and southeast, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west.
Approximately 28,000 km2
Gitega(Politics) (140,000), Bujumbura(Economy) (1.09 million)
Approximately 11.87 million people
85% Hutu, 14% Tutsi, Others
Lundi (national and official), French (official)
Christianity dominates
- Eglise Vivante de Jesus Christ
- Regina Mundi Cathedral
Local traditions and influences from neighboring countries are deeply woven.
- Rusizi National Park
- Livingstone-Stanley Monument
- Musee Vivant
- Unity Monument
- Gishora Drum Sanctuary
- Chutes de la Karera Falls
Education is compulsory for 6 years from 7 to 13 years old. The adult literacy rate is around 85%.
- Universite du Burundi
- Hope Africa University
- Universite Lumiere de Bujumbura
- Universite de Ngozi
- Universite du Lac Tanganyika
- Ecole Normale Superieure de Bujumbura
- CEBULAC
1890 Kingdom of Burundi and neighboring Luanda become part of German East Africa
1916 Belgian forces occupy the area
1923 Became a Belgian mandate
1959 Ethnic Violence Influx of Tutsi Refugees from Rwanda
1962 Independence from Belgium as Kingdom of Burundi
1963 Thousands of Hutus flee to Rwanda due to ethnic violence
1965 Hutus win majority in parliament, but king refuses to appoint a Hutu prime minister. Coup attempt by Army Staff Officer Michelle Micombero
1966 Coup d'etat by Michel Micombero. Micombero abolishes monarchy and declares president
1972 Hutu-led uprising in the south. About 120,000 Hutus are killed
1976 Jean-Baptiste Bagaza dismisses President Micombero in a bloodless military coup
1981 The new constitution will establish a one-party system.
1987 Pierre Buyoya sacks President Bagaza in bloodless coup
1988 Thousands of Hutus are slaughtered by the Tutsis. Thousands of Hutu refugees flee to Rwanda
1992 Multi-party constitution adopted in referendum
1993 First presidential election under a multi-party system. Ndadaye elected president. Transferred from military government to civilian government. Assassination of President Ndadaye by Tutsi soldiers. Genocide against Tutsi, military retaliation plunges into ethnic conflict that claims nearly 300,000 lives
1994 The National Assembly appoints Ntaryamira as president. The plane of President Habyarimana of Rwanda and President Ntaryamira of Burundi were shot down over Kigali. Election of President Ntivantunganya
1995 Massacre of Hutu refugees escalates into ethnic violence in capital Bujumbura
1996 Former President Buyoya seizes power after a military coup
2001 A meeting mediated by South African President Nelson Mandela led to the formation of an interim government (early President Buyoya assumed office), but major Hutu rebel groups refused to sign, and fighting escalated.
2003 Inauguration of late President Ndaizeye. Massive rebel attacks on Bujumbura. Peace Agreement Signed Between Caretaker Government and Rebel Democratic Defense Front (FDD)
2005 New constitution adopted. Inauguration of President Nkurunziza
2006 The curfew that had been in place since 1972 was lifted. Rebel group National Liberation Army (FNL) and government sign ceasefire at talks in Tanzania
2013 New media law approval
2015 attempted coup
2016 The EU announces that it will stop direct financial aid to the Burundi government as the political situation shows little signs of improvement.
2019 Moved the capital to Gitega
2020 President Nkurunziza passed away suddenly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Former Hutu rebel leader Evaristo Ndeiximiye sworn in as president
It is a presidential democratic republic. The president is the head of state and head of government. The parliament is bicameral.
- Ancienne Presidence de la Republique du Burundi
$310
It is resource poor and heavily dependent on agriculture. It is a net importer of food and heavily dependent on international humanitarian assistance.
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