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NAVIGATION
Republic of Burundi
Republika y'u Burundi
GOVERNMENT
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Burundi
conventional short form: Burundi local short form: Burundi local long form: Republika y'u Burundi former: Urundi |
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Government type:
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republic |
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Capital:
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Bujumbura |
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Administrative divisions:
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16 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi |
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Independence:
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1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 1 July (1962) |
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Constitution:
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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 |
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Legal system:
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based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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NA years of age; universal adult |
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Executive branch:
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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 |
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Legislative branch:
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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 |
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Judicial branch:
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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) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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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] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Loosely organized Hutu and Tutsi militias, often affiliated with Hutu and Tutsi extremist parties or subordinate to government security forces |
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International organization participation:
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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 |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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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 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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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 |
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Flag description:
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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
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Economy - overview:
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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. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $3.7 billion (2001 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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1.4% (2001 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $600 (2001 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 50%
industry: 18% services: 32% (2001 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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70% (2001 est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 27% (1992) (1992) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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33 (1992) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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14% (2001 est.) |
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Labor force:
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1.9 million |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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NA |
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Unemployment rate:
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NA% |
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Budget:
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revenues: $125 million
expenditures: $176 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.) |
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Industries:
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light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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6.3% (1999 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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148 million kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 1%
other: 0% (2000) hydro: 99% nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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166.64 million kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - imports:
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29 million kWh
note: supplied by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2000) |
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Agriculture - products:
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coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, manioc (tapioca); beef, milk, hides |
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Exports:
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$24 million f.o.b. (2001 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hides |
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Exports - partners:
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EU 52.5%, US 11.5%, Kenya 11.5%, Switzerland 4.9% (2000 est.) |
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Imports:
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$125 million f.o.b. (2001 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs |
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Imports - partners:
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EU 37.6%, Tanzania 10.3%, Zambia 4.3%, India 3.4%, China 3.4% (2000 est.) |
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Debt - external:
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$1.12 billion (2001 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$74 million (1999) |
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Currency:
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Burundi franc (BIF) |
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Currency code:
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BIF |
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Exchange rates:
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Burundi francs per US dollar - 865.14 (January 2002), 830.35 (2001), 720.67 (2000), 563.56 (1999), 477.77 (1998), 352.35 (1997) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |