Burundi

• 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;
• two wet seasons (February to May and September to November), and two dry seasons (June to August and December to January)

total:

0.29 cu km/yr (17%/6%/77%)

per capita:

38 cu m/yr (2000)

• flooding;
• landslides;
• drought

• 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

party to:

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:

Law of the Sea

• landlocked;
• straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed;
• the Kagera, which drains into Lake Victoria, is the most remote headstream of the White Nile

at birth:

1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.67 male(s)/female

total population:

0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

degree of risk:

very high

food or waterborne diseases:

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease:

malaria

water contact disease:

schistosomiasis

animal contact disease:

rabies (2009)

noun:

Burundian(s)

adjective:

Burundian

conventional long form:

Republic of Burundi

conventional short form:

Burundi

local long form:

Republique du Burundi/Republika y'u Burundi

local short form:

Burundi

former:

Urundi

name:

Bujumbura

geographic coordinates:

3 22 S, 29 21 E

time difference:

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

chief of state:

• President Pierre NKURUNZIZA - Hutu (since 26 August 2005);
• First Vice President Therence SINUNGURUZA - Tutsi (since 29 August 2010);
• Second Vice President Gervais RUFYIKIRI - Hutu (since 29 August 2010);
• note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government:

• President Pierre NKURUNZIZA - Hutu (since 26 August 2005);
• First Vice President Therence SINUNGURUZA - Tutsi (since 29 August 2010);
• Second Vice President Gervais RUFYIKIRI - Hutu (since 29 August 2010)

cabinet:

Council of Ministers appointed by president; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)

elections:

• the president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
• note - the constitution adopted in February 2005 permited the post-transition president to be elected by a two-thirds majority of the parliament;
• elections last held 28 June 2010 (next to be held in 2015);
• vice presidents nominated by the president, endorsed by parliament

election results:

• Pierre NKURUNZIZA elected president by popular vote;
• Pierre NKURUNZIZA 91.6%, other 8.4%;
• note - opposition parties withdrew from the election due to alleged government interference in the electoral process

• Supreme Court or Cour Supreme;
• Constitutional Court;
• High Court of Justice (composed of the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court)

governing parties:

• Burundi Democratic Front or FRODEBU [Leonce NGENDAKUMANA];
• National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Front for the Defense of Democracy or CNDD-FDD [Jeremie NGENDAKUMANA];
• Unity for National Progress or UPRONA [Bonaventure NIYOYANKANA]

note: a multiparty system was introduced after 1998, included are: National Council for the Defense of Democracy or CNDD [Leonard NYANGOMA]; National Resistance Movement for the Rehabilitation of the Citizen or MRC-Rurenzangemero [Epitace BANYAGANAKANDI]; Party for National Redress or PARENA [Jean-Baptiste BAGAZA]

• Forum for the Strengthening of Civil Society or FORSC [Pacifique NININAHAZWE] (civil society umbrella organization);
• Observatoire de lutte contre la corruption et les malversations economiques or OLUCOME [Gabriel RUFYIRI] (anti-corruption pressure group)

other:

Hutu and Tutsi militias (loosely organized)

chief of mission:

Ambassador Angele NIYUHIRE

chancery:

Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007

telephone:

[1] (202) 342-2574

FAX:

[1] (202) 342-2578

chief of mission:

Ambassador Pamela J. H. SLUTZ

embassy:

Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura

mailing address:

B. P. 1720, Bujumbura

telephone:

[257] 223454

FAX:

[257] 222926

• divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and bottom) and green panels (hoist side and fly 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);
• green symbolizes hope and optimism, white purity and peace, and red the blood shed in the struggle for independence;
• the three stars in the disk represent the three major ethnic groups: Hutu, Twa, Tutsi, as well as the three elements in the national motto: unity, work, progress

name:

"Burundi Bwacu" (Our Beloved Burundi)

lyrics/music:

Jean-Baptiste NTAHOKAJA/Marc BARENGAYABO

note: adopted 1962

agriculture:

93.6%

industry:

2.3%

services:

4.1% (2002 est.)

lowest 10%:

4.1%

highest 10%:

28% (2006)

• light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap;
• assembly of imported components;
• public works construction;
• food processing

general assessment:

sparse system of open-wire, radiotelephone communications, and low-capacity microwave radio relays

domestic:

• telephone density one of the lowest in the world;
• fixed-line connections stand at well less than 1 per 100 persons;
• mobile-cellular usage is increasing but remains at a meager 10 per 100 persons

international:

country code - 257; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2009)

• state-controlled La Radiodiffusion et Television Nationale de Burundi (RTNB) operates the lone TV broadcast station and the only national radio network;
• about 10 privately-owned radio broadcast stations;
• transmissions of several international broadcasters are available in Bujumbura (2007)

total:

12,322 km

country comparison to the world: 129

paved:

1,286 km

unpaved:

11,036 km (2004)

• military service is voluntary;
• the armed forces law of 31 December 2004 did not specify a minimum age for enlistment, but the government had previously said each recruit must have a primary school-leaving certificate;
• mandatory retirement age 45 (enlisted), 50 (NCOs), and 55 (officers) (2010)

males age 16-49:

2,099,541

females age 16-49:

2,118,918 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49:

1,337,935

females age 16-49:

1,414,035 (2010 est.)

male:

111,829

female:

111,802 (2010 est.)

• Burundi and Rwanda dispute sections of border on the Akanyaru/Kanyaru and the Kagera/Nyabarongo rivers, which have changed course since the 1960s, when the boundary was delimited;
• cross-border conflicts among Tutsi, Hutu, other ethnic groups, associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces persist in the Great Lakes region

refugees (country of origin):

9,849 (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

IDPs:

100,000 (armed conflict between government and rebels; most IDPs in northern and western Burundi) (2007)