The Republic of Burundi (Republika y'u Burundi) is located in Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Total area: 27,830 sq. km (land: 25,650 sq. km water: 2,180 sq. km)

Bordering countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo over 233 km, Rwanda over 290 km, Tanzania over 451 km

Capital: Bujumbura

Population: 6,054,714 (2000); 6,096,156 (July 2003 est.)Population growth rate: 3.15% (2000); 2.18% (2003 est.)

Independence from United Nations trusteeship under Belgian administration: July 1, 1962
National holiday: Independence Day:July 1
Constitution: March 13, 1992; provided for establishment of a multiparty political system; supplanted on June 6, 1998 by a Transitional Constitution which enlarged the National Assembly and created two vice presidents.

Natural resources: nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum , vanadium, arable land, hydropower

Agriculture productions: coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, cassava; beef, milk, hides (Land use: arable land: 44% permanent crops: 9% permanent pastures: 36% forests and woodland: 3% other: 8% (1993 est.)

Industrial productions: light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing Industrial production growth rate: 0%

Burundi is the "sister-country" of Rwanda. Same ethnic composition: Hutu (85%); Tutsi (15%). Same problem: bitter confrontation between the Hutus and the Tutsis. Prolonged and bloody civil war since 1993.

In January 1994, Mr. Cyprien Ntaryamira (ethnic Hutu) was elected president. He replaced President Pierre Buyoya (ethnic Tutsi). Six months later he died in a plane crash which killed also the president of Rwanda: Juvenal Habyarimana. His designated successor (ethnic Hutu), President Ntibantunganya, was overthrown on July 25, 1996 by a coup led by Colonel Pierre BUYOYA. He assumed an interim presidency of the country from September 27, 1996; and had been officially sworn in June 11, 1998.

These successive events - the death of President elected Cyprien Ntaryamira in strange circumstances; and the overthrow of his designated successor Ntibantunganya by a former ethnic Tutsi president - aggravated the long lasting ethnic tensions between Hutus and Tutsis.

Since October 1993, the war claimed around 350,000 lives, most of them civilians; and the displacement of about 800,000 others.

Former South African president Nelson Mandela acted as peace broker between warring parties and the Tutsi led government from February 1998 to August 2000. Under his tutelage, on August 28, 2000 a power-sharing accord (The Arusha Accord) was signed for a transitional period of three years. During the first part of said period, Buyoya (an ethnic Tutsi) stayed as state president; backed by a deputy president Domitien Ndayizeye (an ethnic Hutu).

December 3, 2002: A cease-fire accord was signed between the Burundian government and the largest ethnic Hutu rebel group. Click here for more

On April 30, 2003 Domitien Ndayizeye took power from Pierre Buyoya in a ceremony in the capital, Bujumbura. In a speech, the new leader promised to fight against genocide between Hutus and Tutsis. Alphonse Marie Kadege (an ethnic Tutsi) was sworn in as deputy to Domitien Ndayizeye deputy.

The pair of new leaders in charge of bringing peace to the country has a Dantesque task ahead. Indeed, adamant Hutu extremists - who refused to sign the Arusha Accord - step up the fighting since the Arusha Accord. They are against sharing power with the minority ethnic Tutsi and in favor of the principle of "one man one vote". They are ready to continue fighting till they grab the full state power from ethnic Tutsis. On the other side, ethnic Tutsi hardliners - particularly high rank officers in the Army - not in favor of the "one man one vote" system are ready to undertake actions to undermine the Hutu's power.

However April 30, 2003 is a symbolic victory date for peace. Buyoya complied to the power sharing agreement laid down by the Arusha Accord. Nevertheless the reconciliation process between the two ethnic communities, which are at each over throat since more than a century will not be an easy task.

Burundi is a landlocked country. Costs of imports and exports are increased by transport by road from Tanzania's ports of Dar-Es-Salaam and Mombassa. An international embargo - decreed by the OAU (Organization for African Unity) further disrupted the economy between 1996-beginning of 2000. Foods, medicines, and electricity remain in short supply. The economy is predominantly agricultural with 90% of the population dependent on subsistence agriculture.

Should Burundians come to peace with each other, and forget that ethnicity fight of another age, they do have valuable natural resources, hydropower and plenty of arable lands to rebuild their country; develop a strong agribusiness as launching pad to sustained growth and prosperity to be shared by the whole population.

MORE ON BURUNDI 1- Ethnic Conflict And Genocide by Reni lemarchand 2- Fear In Bongoland Burundi's Refugees In Urban Tanzania by Marc Sommers 3- D&B Export Guide To Burundi Digital Delivery In PDF by D&B

4- Burundi Business Law Digital Delivery In PDF 5- The Master Drummers of Burundi CD-ROM 6- More On Burundi by Yahoo!

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GNP: US$ 2.44 (2000); US$ 2.11 (2002)
GNP-growth rate: -1% (1999); 1.8% (2000); 2.1% (2002)
GNP-per capita: US$ 360 (2000); 350 (2002)

Click here for the difference between GNP and Parity Purchasing Power

GNP-composition by sector

1. agriculture: 50%
   

2. industry: 19%
   
3. services: 31%

Exports: US$ 56 million (f.o.b., 1999); US$ 32 million (f.o.b., 2000); 26 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Commodities: coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hides. Exports - partners: UK, Germany, Benelux, Switzerland

Imports: US$ 108 million (f.o.b., 1999); US$ 110 million (f.o.b., 2000); 135 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Commodities: capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs. Imports - partners: Benelux, France, Zambia, Germany, Kenya, Japan

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A passport, visa, and evidence of immunization against yellow fever and meningococcal meningitis are required.

Only those travelers resident in countries where there is no Burundian Embassy are eligible for entry stamps, without a visa, at the airport upon arrival. These entry stamps are not a substitute for a visa, which must be obtained from the Burundi Immigration Service within 24 hours of arrival. Travelers without a visa are not permitted to leave the country.

Travelers should obtain the latest information and details from the Embassy of the Republic of Burundi in the States (below listed)

Please be advised that if you are going onward to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with visas and / or entry / exit stamps from Burundi, Rwanda or Uganda, you may experience difficulties at DRC airports or other ports of entry. Some travelers with those visas or exit / entry stamps have been detained for questioning in DRC.

England Embassy of the Republic of Burundi 26 Armitage Road, London, NW11 8RD Tel: +(44)181 3814092 Fax: +(44) 181 4588596	USA Embassy of the Republic of Burundi 2233 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 212, NW, Washington, DC 20007 Tel: +(1) 202 3422574 Fax: +(1) 202 3422578 E-mail: Click here
National Tourism Office Office National du Tourisme BP 902 2 avenue des Euphorbes Bujumbura Tel: +(257) 224208 Fax: +(257) 229390	Belgium Embassy of the Republic of Burundi Square Marie Louise, 46 Brussels 1000 Tel: +(32) 2 230 3545 / 230 3624

Due to the civil war, many international air-carriers have stopped / reduced schedules to and from Bujumbura international airport.

Waterways: Lake Tanganyika

Ports and harbors: Bujumbura (On Lake Tanganyka); Mombassa, Dar-Es-Salaam (Tanzania) from where goods and commodities are transshipped.

Few hotels in the capital city. For more on accommodation, contact the Tourism Board in Bujumbura below listed or visit following link.

It is advisable to bring all foreign currency (travelers' checks and cash) in US Dollars to avoid the additional exchange rate charges. Credit cards like MasterCard and Diners Club have limited acceptance.

Every exchange transactions must be conducted through one of the main banks in Bujumbura or Gitega.

There is no limit on importation of foreign currency, but it must be declared and exportation is limited to the amount declared on entry, while the import and export of local currency is limited to Fbu2000.

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