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| Burundi |

Introduction | Burundi

Background: | 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. Burundi 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 toward holding national elections in three years. While the Government of Burundi signed a cease-fire agreement in December 2002 with three of Burundi's four Hutu rebel groups, implementation of the agreement has been problematic and one rebel group refuses to sign on, clouding prospects for a sustainable peace.

Geography | Burundi

Location: | Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates: | 3 30 S, 30 00 E
Map references: | Africa
Area: | total: 27,830 sq km water: 2,180 sq km land: 25,650 sq km
Area - comparative: | slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries: | total: 974 km border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 233 km, Rwanda 290 km, Tanzania 451 km
Coastline: | 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: | none (landlocked)
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
Terrain: | hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains
Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m highest point: Mount Heha 2,670 m
Natural resources: | nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum (not yet exploited), vanadium, arable land, hydropower
Land use: | arable land: 29.98% permanent crops: 12.85% other: 57.17% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: | 740 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: | flooding, landslides, drought
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 | Burundi

Population: | 6,096,156 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2003 est.)
Age structure: | 0-14 years: 46.7% (male 1,438,759; female 1,409,567) 15-64 years: 50.6% (male 1,516,833; female 1,564,513) 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 66,355; female 100,129) (2003 est.)
Median age: | total: 16.3 years male: 15.9 years female: 16.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate: | 2.18% (2003 est.)
Birth rate: | 39.72 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate: | 17.8 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate: | -0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate: | total: 71.54 deaths/1,000 live births female: 64.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 78.45 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 43.2 years male: 42.54 years female: 43.88 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate: | 5.99 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 8.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 390,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 40,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality: | noun: Burundian(s) adjective: Burundian
Ethnic groups: | Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%, Europeans 3,000, South Asians 2,000
Religions: | Christian 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%), indigenous beliefs 23%, Muslim 10%
Languages: | Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili (along Lake Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area)
Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 51.6% male: 58.5% female: 45.2% (2003 est.)

Government | Burundi

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
Government type: | republic
Capital: | Bujumbura
Administrative divisions: | 16 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi
Independence: | 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)
National holiday: | Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
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
Suffrage: | NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch: | chief of state: President Domitien NDAYIZEYE (since 30 April 2003); note - NDAYIZEYE, a Hutu, was sworn in as president for the second half of the three-year transitional government inaugurated on 1 November 2001; Vice President Alphonse KADEGE (since 30 April 2003); note - from the Tutsi minority head of government: President Domitien NDAYIZEYE (since 30 April 2003); note - NDAYIZEYE, a Hutu, was sworn in as president for the second half of the three-year transitional government inaugurated on 1 November 2001; Vice President Alphonse KADEGE (since 30 April 2003); note - from the Tutsi minority cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president elections: NA; current president assumed power on 30 April 2003 as part of the transitional government established by the 2000 Arusha Accord
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 was 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 [Alphonse KADEGE, 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 NZEYIMANA]; 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, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Antoine NTAMOBWA 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

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. Economic growth depends on coffee and tea exports, which account for 90% of foreign exchange earnings. The ability to pay for imports, therefore, rests primarily on weather conditions and international coffee and tea prices. The Tutsi minority, 14% of the population, dominates the government and the coffee trade at the expense of the Hutu majority, 85% of the population. Since October 1993 an ethnic-based war has resulted in the death of over 200,000 persons, sent 800,000 refugees into Tanzania, and displaced 525,000 others internally. Doubts about the prospects for sustainable peace continue to impede development. Only one in two children go to school, and approximately one in ten adults has HIV/AIDS. Food, medicine, and electricity remain in short supply.
GDP: | purchasing power parity - $3.146 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: | 4.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita: | purchasing power parity - $500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 50% industry: 19% services: 31% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line: | 70% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 1.8% highest 10%: 32.9% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 42.5 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 12% (2002 est.)
Labor force: | 3.7 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation: | NA
Unemployment rate: | NA%
Budget: | revenues: $125 million expenditures: $176 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Industries: | light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing
Industrial production growth rate: | 18% (2001)
Electricity - production: | 155.4 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: 0.6% hydro: 99.4% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: | 177.5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports: | 33 million kWh; note - supplied by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2001)
Oil - production: | 0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption: | 2,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports: | NA (2001)
Oil - imports: | NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: | coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, manioc (tapioca); beef, milk, hides
Exports: | $26 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities: | coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hides
Exports - partners: | Switzerland 28.8%, Germany 20.2%, Belgium 9.4%, Kenya 7.8%, Rwanda 6.5%, Netherlands 4.6% (2002)
Imports: | $135 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities: | capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs
Imports - partners: | Belgium 12.4%, Saudi Arabia 12.3%, Tanzania 9.3%, Kenya 7.7%, France 7.4%, India 4.5% (2002)
Debt - external: | $1.14 billion (2001)
Economic aid - recipient: | $92.7 million (2000)
Currency: | Burundi franc (BIF)
Currency code: | BIF
Exchange rates: | Burundi francs per US dollar - NA (2002), 830.35 (2001), 720.67 (2000), 563.56 (1999), 447.77 (1998)
Fiscal year: | calendar year

Communications | Burundi

Telephones - main lines in use: | 18,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular: | 30,000 (2002)
Telephone 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)
Radio broadcast stations: | AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios: | 440,000 (2001)
Television broadcast stations: | 1 (2001)
Televisions: | 25,000 (1997)
Internet country code: | .bi
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 1 (2000)
Internet users: | 6,000 (2002)

Transportation | Burundi

Railways: | 0 km
Highways: | total: 14,480 km paved: 1,028 km unpaved: 13,452 km (1999 est.)
Waterways: | Lake Tanganyika
Ports and harbors: | Bujumbura
Airports: | 7 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: | total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2002)

Military | Burundi

Military branches: | Army (including naval and air units), Gendarmerie
Military manpower - military age: | 16 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability: | males age 15-49: 1,375,900 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: | males age 15-49: 723,516 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: | males: 79,462 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $42.13 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 5.3% (FY02)

Transnational Issues | Burundi

Disputes - international: | Tutsi, Hutu, and other conflicting ethnic groups, associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces continue fighting in the Great Lakes region, transcending the boundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda to gain control over populated and natural resource areas; government heads pledge to end conflict, but localized violence continues despite UN peacekeeping efforts

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003