Burundi
Republic of BurundiRepublika y'u Burundi
republic
Burundi as the 2002 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 113 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
Burundi's first democratically elected president was assassinated in October 1993 after only four months in office. Since then, some 200,000 Burundians have perished in widespread, often intense ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi factions. Hundreds of thousands have been internally displaced or have become refugees in neighboring countries. Burundian troops, seeking to secure their borders, intervened in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1998.
More recently, many of these troops have been redeployed back to Burundi to deal with periodic upsurges in rebel activity. A new transitional government, inaugurated on 1 November 2001, was to be the first step towards holding national elections in three years. However, the unwillingness of the Hutu rebels to enact a cease fire with Bujumbura continues to obstruct prospects for a sustainable peace.
Geography
Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
18 fieldsLand useshare of 27,830 sq km
Climate
- equatorial;
- high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,670 m above sea level);
- average annual temperature varies with altitude from 23 to 17 degrees centigrade but is generally moderate as the average altitude is about 1,700 m;
- average annual rainfall is about 150 cm;
- wet seasons from February to May and September to November, and dry seasons from June to August and December to January
Natural resources
nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum (not yet exploited), vanadium, arable land, hydropower
Environment - current issues
- soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion of agriculture into marginal lands;
- deforestation (little forested land remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel);
- habitat loss threatens wildlife populations
Environment - international agreements
- party to:
- Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
- signed, but not ratified:
- Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note
- landlocked;
- straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed;
- the Kagera, which drains into Lake Victoria, is the most remote headstream of the White Nile
People
18 fieldsNote
Per 1,000 population(2002 est.)
Male · female
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 46.5% (male 1,497,865; female 1,466,455)
- 15-64 years:
- 50.7% (male 1,592,253; female 1,640,254)
- 65 years and over:
- 2.8% (male 71,915; female 104,260) (2002 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.02 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.97 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.69 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.99 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Ethnic groups
Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%, Europeans 3,000, South Asians 2,000
Languages
Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili (along Lake Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area)
Government
Republic; President Pierre BUYOYA (a Tutsi, was sworn in as president of a transition government on 1 November 2001; President Pierre BUYOYA (a Tutsi, was sworn in as president of a transition government on 1 November 2001
18 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Legislature, 121 seats, elected 29 June 1993one dot, one seat
Percent of vote
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Republic of Burundi
- conventional short form:
- Burundi
- local short form:
- Burundi
- local long form:
- Republika y'u Burundi
- former:
- Urundi
Administrative divisions
16 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi
Constitution
- 13 March 1992;
- provided for establishment of a plural political system;
- supplanted on 6 June 1998 by a Transitional Constitution which enlarged the National Assembly and created two vice presidents
Legal system
based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Pierre BUYOYA (a Tutsi, was sworn in as president of a transition government on 1 November 2001; he is scheduled to hold office for 18 months before transferring power to his vice president, a Hutu);
- Vice President Domitien NDAYIZEYE (since 1 November 2001)
- head of government:
- President Pierre BUYOYA (a Tutsi, was sworn in as president of a transition government on 1 November 2001; he is scheduled to hold office for 18 months before transferring power to his vice president, a Hutu);
- Vice President Domitien NDAYIZEYE (since 1 November 2001)
- cabinet:
- Council of Ministers appointed by president
- elections:
- NA; current president assumed power following a coup on 25 July 1996 in which former President NTIBANTUNGANYA was overthrown
Legislative branch
bicameral, consists of a National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (expanded from 121 to approximately 140 seats under the transitional government inaugurated 1 November 2001; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and a Senate (54 seats; term length is undefined, the current senators will likely serve out the three-year transition period)
- elections:
- last held 29 June 1993 (next was scheduled to be held in 1998, but were suspended by presidential decree in 1996; elections are planned to follow the completion of the three-year transitional government)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - FRODEBU 71.04%, UPRONA 21.4%, other 7.56%; seats by party - FRODEBU 65, UPRONA 16, civilians 27, other parties 13
Judicial branch
- Supreme Court or Cour Supreme;
- Constitutional Court;
- Courts of Appeal (there are three in separate locations);
- Tribunals of First Instance (17 at the province level and 123 small local tribunals)
Political parties and leaders
- the two national, mainstream, governing parties are:
- Unity for National Progress or UPRONA [Luc RUKINGAMA, president]; Burundi Democratic Front or FRODEBU [Jean MINANI, president]
note: a multiparty system was introduced after 1998, included are: Burundi African Alliance for the Salvation or ABASA [Terrence NSANZE]; Rally for Democracy and Economic and Social Development or RADDES [Joseph NZENZIMANA];
Party for National Redress or PARENA [Jean-Baptiste BAGAZA]; People's Reconciliation Party or PRP [Mathias HITIMANA]
Political pressure groups and leaders
Loosely organized Hutu and Tutsi militias, often affiliated with Hutu and Tutsi extremist parties or subordinate to government security forces
International organization participation
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Thomas NDIKUMANA
- chancery:
- Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 342-2578
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 342-2574
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador James Howard YELLIN
- embassy:
- Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura
- mailing address:
- B. P. 1720, Bujumbura
- telephone:
- [257] 223454
- FAX:
- [257] 222926
Flag description
divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and bottom) and green panels (hoist side and outer side) with a white disk superimposed at the center bearing three red six-pointed stars outlined in green arranged in a triangular design (one star above, two stars below)
Economy
Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector.
33 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2001 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy - overview
Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector. The economy is predominantly agricultural with roughly 90% of the population dependent on subsistence agriculture. Its economic health depends on the coffee crop, which accounts for 80% of foreign exchange earnings.
The ability to pay for imports therefore rests largely on the vagaries of the climate and the international coffee market. Since October 1993 the nation has suffered from massive ethnic-based violence which has resulted in the death of more than 200,000 persons and the displacement of about 800,000 others.
Only one in four children go to school, and more than one in ten adults has HIV/AIDS. Foods, medicines, and electricity remain in short supply. Doubts regarding the sustainability of peace continue to impede development. A Geneva donors' conference in November 2001 brought $800 million in pledges, and an IMF-staff-monitored program could lead to a further agreement in 2002.
Industries
- light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap;
- assembly of imported components;
- public works construction;
- food processing
Agriculture - products
coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, manioc (tapioca); beef, milk, hides
Exchange rates
Burundi francs per US dollar - 865.14 (January 2002), 830.35 (2001), 720.67 (2000), 563.56 (1999), 477.77 (1998), 352.35 (1997)
Communications
10 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- primitive system
- domestic:
- sparse system of open wire, radiotelephone communications, and low-capacity microwave radio relay
- international:
- satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Transportation
7 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved only
Networkskm
Military
Army (including naval and air units), Gendarmerie
7 fieldsTransnational Issues
1 fieldDisputes - international
Tutsi, Hutu, and other conflicting ethnic groups, political rebels, and various government forces continue fighting in Great Lakes region, transcending the boundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Burundi.” The World Factbook 2002. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/burundi/2002.