Burundi

Country information
Burundi is a former German and Belgian colony in the African Great Lake-regionand strives mostly on its export of coffee, as well as agriculture.

History
The earliest inhabitants of the area were the pygmoid Twa, followed by the Hutu who then co-habited in harmony for numerous years. The Tutsi were the last inhabitants to enter Burundi, yet they took over by a military regime and forced their monarchy unto the Hutus and Twas. The Tutsi set up a social pyramid where the Hutus and Twas were consistently oppressed.

Burundi existed as an independent kingdom from the sixteenth century. In 1903, it became a German colony and passed to Belgium in World War I. It was part of the Belgian League of Nations mandate of Ruanda-Urundi in 1923, later a United Nations Trust Territory under Belgian administrative authority following World War II. Until the downfall of the monarchy in 1966, kingship remained one of the last links that bound Burundi with its past. Only Tutsis were recognized as equal humans and could be Kings. The Hutus and Twas were oppressed servants at the Tutsi dictatorship.

From independence in 1962, until the elections of 1993, Burundi was controlled by a series of Tutsi military dictators. These years saw extensive ethnic violence perpetrated by Tutsis militia in power against innocent civilians, mainly Hutu . In 1972, 1988, and 1993, the Hutu were victims of genocides at the hands of Tutsi extremists who maintained all the political and economic power in the country. In 1972, 500,000 Hutus were killed by Tutsi extremists. In 1993 Burundi held its first democratic presidential elections which were won by the Hutu-dominated Front for Democracy in Burundi.

FRODEBU leader Melchior Ndadaye became Burundi's first elected President and also Hutu President. But a few months later he was assassinated by a group of Tutsi army officers. The killing was a pretense for the Tutsi army to start a new genocide against the Hutu. Tutsi extremists massacred thousands of Hutu civilians. Years of instability followed , and unelected dictator Pierre Buyoya took power in a coup. In August 2000, a peace deal was agreed by most of Burundi's political groups. Unfortunately, it made no distinction between political parties and genocidal forces, as both were allowed to play a role in the national institutions. The deal laid out a timetable for the restoration of democracy. After several more years of genocide against the Hutu, a cease-fire was signed in 2003 between the government and the largest Hutu rebel group, CNDD-FDD. In April of that year, FRODEBU leader Domitien Ndayizeye had replaced Buyoya as President.

As of today, the Tutsi, consisting of only 14% of the population, still control a majority of the elite business positions in Burundi. The majority of Bank Managers and University Presidents are still Tutsi. The current President, H.E. Nkurunziza, has forgiven the Tutsis for the genocides they perpetrated against the Hutu.

Politics
The politics of Burundi take place in a framework of a transitional presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Burundi is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of parliament, the Senate and the National Assembly. The President has officially called a cease-fire between the two warring parties in the civil war. Decades of ethnic violence makes the achievement of political and social harmony difficult, as is evident in the reports of seminars of ministers of religion and teachers on the prospects for a 'nonkilling society'.

Geography
Burundi is a landlocked country with an equatorial climate. Called "The heart of Africa" it lies on a rolling plateau, with Lake Tanganyika in its south west corner. The average elevation of the central plateau is 5,600 feet (1,700 m), with lower elevations at the borders. The highest peak, Mount Karonje, at 9,055 feet (2,760 m), lies to the southeast of the capital, Bujumbura.

The land is mostly agricultural or pasture, the creation of which has led to deforestation, soil erosion and habitat loss. Deforestation of the entire country is almost complete due to overpopulation, with a mere 230 square miles (600 km²) remaining and an ongoing loss of about nine percent per annum.[4] There are two national parks, Kibira National Park to the northwest (a small region of montane rainforest, adjacent to Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda), Rurubu National Park to the north east (along the Rurubu River, also known as Ruvubu or Ruvuvu).

Economy
Burundi's largest industry is agriculture, which accounted for 58% of GDP in 1997. Coffee is the nation's biggest revenue earner with 78% of all exported goods. Other agriculture products include cotton, tea, maize, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas (of which Burundi is one of the world's ten largest producers), manioc (tapioca); beef, milk, and hides. Besides agriculture, other industries include light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing.

Burundi is the poorest country in the world, in terms of GDP per capita: US$90 as of 2007. The economy is supported by foreign aid from Western Europe and other parts of the world. In 2000 this amount reached US$92.7 million. 68% of the population lived below the poverty line in 2002. The country's estimated gross domestic product (GDP) was US$700 million in 2001. According to the World Food Programme, the majority of children aged under 5 (56.8%) suffer from chronic malnutrition.

Culture
The culture of Burundi is based on local tradition and the influence of its neighbors, though its prominence has been hindered by the civil unrest. Most Burundians live in rural areas as extended families in hilltop compounds called rugos. Arranged marriages are not uncommon, with the groom’s family sometimes paying a bride price. City residents often take a siesta, and most businesses will be closed in the early afternoon.

Traditional drumming is an important part of Burundian cultural heritage, as indicated by the world-famous Royal Drummers of Burundi. Traditional dance often accompanies the drumming, which is frequently seen in celebrations and family gatherings. Burundians also adhere to a strong oral tradition which relays history and life lessons through storytelling, poetry, and song. Cattle herders engage in kivivuga amazina, an improvisational poetry contest in which they boast their abilities or accomplishments.

Football is a popular pastime throughout the country, as are mancala games. Cricket is becoming increasingly popular at grassroots level and is the most popular youth sport. Many Burundians celebrate Christian holidays and Burundian Independence Day, though the largest celebration occurs on New Year’s Day with feasting and traditional drumming and dancing.

Facts and figures

Capital city:		Bujumbura
Official language:		Kirundi, French
Government:		Republic
Population:		7,548,000 (2005)
Human Development Index:		0.413 (low) (2007)
Currency:		Burundi franc