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COUNTRY NAME:
- 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
BURUNDI ETYMOLOGY:
- The country's modern name is derived from the word “Kirundi” in Bantu language.
BURUNDI CAPITAL CITY:
- Bujumbura is the capital city of Burindi.
BURUNDI CURRENCY:
- Burundian Franc is the official currency of Burundi.
BURUNDI HISTORY:
- The Twa tribe were the very first to inhabit the region.
- The original inhabitants of Burundi were the Twa- a Pygmy community.
- The Twa are now present only in a small minority (1%).
- The dominant groups now are the Hutu (85%) and the Tutsi (14%).
- Though the two communities were similar in culture, language and ethnicity, they followed different occupations.
- Hutu were primarily concerned with agriculture while the Tutsi were mainly cattle breeders
- In 1933, the Belgians imposed a rule that required every one to carry a proof of tribal identity.
- Since independence, the landowning Tutsi aristocracy has dominated Burundi.
- Burundi was once part of German East Africa.
- Burundi was assigned the status of United Nations trust territory in 1923 afterBelgium won a League of Nations mandate.
- In 1962, Burundi gained independence and was ruled by a Tutsi king, Mwami Mwambutsa IV.
- In 1965, a conflict arose between the Hutu and the Tutsi.
- Mwambutsa was deposed by his son, Ntaré V, in 1966.
- Ntaré was overthrown in a military coup by Premier Michel Micombero in 1966.
- In 1970–1971, a civil war began which led to a large number of casualties.
- On Nov. 1, 1976, Lt. Col. Jean-Baptiste Bagaza led a coup and took over as president.
- The constitution was suspended and a 30-member Supreme Revolutionary Council became the governing body.
- In Sept 1987, Maj. Pierre Buyoya overthrew Bagaza and assumed presidency.
- Riots between the two ethnic groups resurfaced in August 1988, leaving thousands of Hutus dead.
- Buyoya made efforts to resolve the differences between the two ethnic groups.
- On June 2 1993, Melchior Ndadaye won the country's first democratic presidential elections.
- Since he was the first Hutu to come into power, he was assassinated during a coup after a few months.
- The second Hutu president, Cyprien Ntaryamira, was also assassinated.
- The political killings led to a mass furor and resulted in Hutu gangs massacring the Tutsis.
- In July 1996, six nations proposed to dispatch troops in the region to restore peace.
- After several aborted cease-fires, a 2001 peace plan included a power-sharing agreement that has been relatively successful.
- Burundi’s 12 year long civil war came to end with a democratically elected leader.
BURUNDI DEMOGRAPHICS:
- Majority of the population are of Hutu ethnic origin.
- Most of the remaining population is Tutsi.
- Twa (Pygmy), South Asians and Europeans are present in small numbers.
- Burundi has the second highest population density in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Roman Catholicism is the most prevalent faith followed by indigenous faiths,
- Protestants and Muslims are present in minority.
- The official languages are Kirundi and French.
- Swahili is also spoken in some areas.
BURUNDI GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS:
- Burundi is run by a republic government.
- Administrative divisions consist of 17 provinces namely Bubanza, Bujumbura Mairie, Bujumbura Rurale, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro, Ngozi, Rutana and Ruyigi.
- The Constitution came into force on 28 February 2005 and ratified by popular referendum.
- The legal system is based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law.
- Burundi has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
- The president is both the chief of state and head of government.
- The cabinet consists of a Council of Ministers appointed by president.
- The president is elected by popular vote to a five-year term.
- The constitution permits the post-transition president to be elected by a two-thirds majority of the parliament.
- The vice president is nominated by the president and endorsed by parliament.
- The legislative branch is represented by a bicameral Parliament or Parlement consisting of a National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale and a Senate.
- The National Assembly has a minimum of 100 seats- 60% for Hutu and 40% for Tutsi with at least 30% being women.
- Members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms.
- The Senate has 54 seats.
- 34 members are elected by indirect vote to serve five-year terms and remaining seats are assigned to ethnic groups and former chiefs of state.
- The judicial branch is represented by the Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court and the High Court of Justice (composed of the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court).
BURUNDI CULTURE:
- The culture of Burundi has been rich in local traditions.
- Hilltop compounds in rural areas are known as “rugos”.
- Marriages are usually mediated by families and the groom’s family is often required to pay a “bride price”.
- Traditional drumming and dancing form an important part of festivals and social gatherings.
- The oral tradition of story-telling, folklore, poetry, song and history is still popular.
- Cattle herders engage in kivivuga amazina, an improvisational poetry contest.
- Football and mancala games are popular sports.
- Cricket is fast gaining popularity among the country’s youth.
- New Year’s Day is celebrated in a traditional style with drumming, dancing and feasting.
BURUNDI ECONOMY:
- Burundi has a poor economy due to lack of resources and an underdeveloped manufacturing sector
- Most people are dependant on subsistence farming.
- Coffee and Tea exports are the primary source of economic growth.
- The yield is however, dependant on weather conditions and international prices.
- The Tutsi dominate the government and the coffee trade.
- The long civil war has been a great setback for Burundi’s economical development.
- Illiteracy and AIDS are the two main factors that hinder the country’s growth.
- Food, medicine, and electricity remain in short supply.
- Economic activity has increased considerably after the end of civil war.
- Poor administration and inadequate law and order have resulted in corruption and a decline in government’s revenues.
- The GDP (purchasing power parity) as estimated in 2007 was $2.896 billion.
- 68% of the population is below poverty line.
- Agricultural produce includes coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, manioc (tapioca); beef, milk and hides.
- The main industries are light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly of imported components; public works construction and food processing.
- The Industrial production growth rate is 6.4% (2007 est.)
- Exports commodities include coffee, tea, sugar, cotton and hides.
- Imports commodities include capital goods, petroleum products and foodstuffs.
BURUNDI INFRASTRUCTURE
- Telephone services in Burundi are one of the most underdeveloped in the world.
- There is less than one fixed line per 100 people.
- Mobile cellular services are comparatively better.
- There are about two cellular connections per 100 people.
- There are a total of 5 radio broadcast stations and only 1 television broadcast stations.
- Internet services are extremely limited.
- Burundi has 8 airports of which one 1 has paved runways.
- The roadways span over a distance of 12,322 km.
- Waterways are located mainly on Lake Tanganyika.
- The main ports and terminals are located in Bujumbura.
BURUNDI EDUCATION:
- Only 59.3% of the population is literate.
- Male: 67.3%
- Female: 52.2% (2000 est.)
BURUNDI NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES:
- Rwanda (north)
- Tanzania (south and east)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo (west)
- Lake Tanganyika (west)
BURUNDI GEOGRAPHICAL SETTINGS:
- Burundi is located in Central Africa.
- Its geographical coordinates are 3 30 S, 30 00 E.
- The country covers a total area of 27,830 sq km.
- The climate of Burundi is mostly equatorial.
- The average annual temperatures vary with altitudinal variation across the plateaus.
- The average annual rainfall is about 150 cm.
- February to May and September to November are wet seasons.
- June to August and December to January are dry seasons.
- The terrain is hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east and some plains .
- The highest point is Heha standing at 2,670 m.
- Natural resources includes nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum, vanadium, arable land, hydropower, niobium, tantalum, gold, tin, tungsten, kaolin and limestone.
- 35.57% of the land is arable.
- Flooding, landslides and drought are not uncommon.
- Burundi straddles the crest of the Nile-Congo watershed called the Kagera.
BURUNDI FREEDOM
- Burundi gained its independence from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration on 1 July 1962.
BURUNDI NOTABLE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY:
- Mwami Ntare I Rushatsi - warrior and astute administrator
- Mwambutsa IV (1913–78) - the last mwami under the Belgian administration
- Prince Louis Rwagasore (1930–61) - founder of UPRONA
BURUNDI COUNTRY FAMOUS FOR:
- Burundi is known for its rich tribal traditions.
BURUNDI TOTAL POPULATION:
- According to a 2008 census, the total population was estimated to be 8,691,005.
- Mortality rate is high due to prevalence of AIDS.
- Population growth rate is 3.443% (2008 est.)
- Birth rate: 41.72 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
- Death rate: 12.91 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
BURUNDI PREVIOUS RECORDS MEDALS
- Burundi has been competing at every Summer Olympic Games since 1996.
- The nation has never participated in the Winter Olympic Games.
- Vénuste Niyongabo won a gold medal in athletics (Men’s 5000 meters) in the 1996 Games.
- Burundi has won only one Olympic medal till date.
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