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| Independence Year : 1962 Population : 6695000 Life Expectancy : 46.2 Capital : 552 GNP : 903.00 GNP Old : 982.00 Local Name : Burundi/Uburundi Government Form : Republic Location : East-central Africa south of the Equator. Terrain : Hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains. Climate : Tropical equatorial, with wet and dry seasons, temperature varies with altitude Ethnic Group : Hutu 85%; Tutsi 14%; Twa 1.0%. Religions : Roman Catholic 60%-65%; Protestant 10%-15%; traditional beliefs 15%-20%; Muslim 5%. Official Website : www.burundi-embassy-berlin.com/ | 
Genral Information - Burundi
Background
Burundi is a small nation in east-central Africa's Great Lakes region. Burundi's first democratically elected president was assassinated in October 1993 after only one hundred days 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, briefly intervened in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1998. A new transitional government, inaugurated on 1 November 2001, signed a power-sharing agreement with the largest rebel faction in December 2003 and set in place a provisional constitution in October 2004. Implementation of the agreement has been problematic, however, as one remaining rebel group refuses to sign on and elections have been repeatedly delayed, clouding prospects for a sustainable peace. Elections in August 2005 have radically transformed Burundi's political landscape. The success of the former CNDD-FDD rebels, including the selection of Pierre Nkurunziza as president on 19 August, gives the party control of all branches of government. Concurrently, the security sector has been profoundly restructured with CNDD-FDD fighters now making up 40 per cent of the army. They provide a safeguard against attempted coups to interrupt the peace process and thus a guarantee that further reforms required under the Arusha agreement for peace and reconciliation will be realised. Nonetheless, the elections are just one, albeit important, step toward a lasting peace. |
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