Burundi: map and description of the country. Education

Skip to navigation Skip to search

Republic of Burundi

Republika y"u Burundi
Republic of Burundi

Motto: "Unité, Travail, Progress"
Ubumwe, Ibikorwa, Iterambere
(Unity, work, progress)"

Hymn: "Burundi bwacu (Burundi's Favorite)"

Independence date

July 1, 1962 (from )

official languages

rundi and french

Capital

Largest cities

Bujumbura,

Form of government

presidential-parliamentary republic

The president

Pierre Nkurunziza

Vice President

Gaston Sindimwo

Vice President

Joseph Butore

Territory

142nd in the world

Total

27,830 km²

% water surface

7,8%

Population

Score (2016)

▲ 11,099,298 (July 2016, estimate) people. (78th)

Census (2008)

8,053,574 people

Density

323 people/km²

GDP

Total (2008)

$3.1 billion (161st)

Per capita

$389

HDI (2015)

↘ 0.400 (low; 184th)

Currency

Burundian franc (BIF code 108)

Internet domain

.bi

ISO code

B.I.

IOC code

BDI

Telephone code

+257

Time Zones

Burundi(rundi and French Burundi), the full official form is Republic of Burundi(Rundi Republika y "u Burundi, French République du Burundi) is a small state in, one of the least developed countries in the world. It borders on the north, DR Congo on the west and on the east and southeast. Access to the sea has no. In the southwest it is washed by Lake Tanganyika.

Story

Ancient period

The ancient and medieval history of Burundi is poorly studied. The first inhabitants to inhabit the region were the Twa pygmies, who were driven out around 1000 AD. e. Hutu farmers. In the 15th-16th centuries, Tutsi nomadic herders came here.

In the 17th century, the independent feudal kingdom of Burundi emerged on the territory of modern Burundi. The first known mwami (king) Ntare I united the disparate states that existed in this territory and created a single kingdom. During the reign of Ntare II, the kingdom flourished. During numerous wars with its neighbors, Ntare II expanded the territory of his kingdom almost to its modern borders. From the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, there were internecine wars in the state.

Colonial period

The first European to visit what is now Burundi was John Hannig Speke, who traveled with Richard Burton to the Lake Tanganyika area in 1858. They circled the northern end of the lake in search of the source of the Nile. In 1871, Stanley and Livingstone reached and explored the Ruzizi area. After the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, the German zone of influence in East Africa was expanded to the territory of modern Burundi. In 1894, the German Count von Goetzen discovered Lake Kivu. Four years later, the first missionaries visited the territory of modern Burundi.

Political structure

Constitution

Burundi's first constitution was adopted in 1981. According to it, the head of state and government was the president, elected for a five-year term in direct general elections. The constitution contained a provision according to which only the leader of the country's only legal party, the Union for National Progress (UPRONA), where the predominant role was occupied by Tutsis, could be a candidate for the post of president. With the adoption of a new constitution in 1992, a multi-party system was allowed in the country, and the president began to be elected by universal suffrage. The country currently has a constitution adopted in a referendum in February 2005.

Executive branch

President of Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza

Executive power is concentrated in the hands of the president, who according to the constitution is the head of state and government. Elected by direct vote for a term of 5 years for no more than two terms. He is also the commander-in-chief of the army, the guarantor of national unity. The current head of state, Pierre Nkurunziza, was elected to this post by parliamentary vote according to the transitional constitution adopted in February 2005. On June 28, 2010, direct presidential elections began in the country, in which Nkurunziza remained the only participant after all alternative candidates withdrew from the election campaign.

The President is assisted in the exercise of his powers by two vice-presidents, one of whom coordinates the political and administrative spheres, and the second - the economic and social spheres. Both vice-presidents are appointed by the head of state after consultation with the National Assembly. The ethnic composition plays a role in the formation of the Council of Ministers, which is determined by quotas for Hutus (60%) and Tutsis (40%).

Legislature

The legislative power is represented by a bicameral parliament, consisting of the National Assembly (French L "Assemblée Nationale) and the Senate. The National Assembly consists of at least 100 members elected for a term of 5 years. When forming it, ethnic (60% Hutu and 40% Tutsi) and gender (70% male and 30% female) principles.The National Independent Electoral Commission also appoints additional members to represent the interests of ethnic minorities.

The Senate consists of 49 members, 34 of whom are elected indirectly for a term of 5 years, the remaining seats are distributed among ethnic minorities and former heads of state.

The legislative functions of parliament are limited by the constitution. The President, after consulting with the Constitutional Court, can pass a decree that has the power above the law.

Judicial branch

At the lowest level, minor disputes are resolved on the basis of customary law by the hill courts (rundi intahe yo ku mugina), which consist of elders (rundi abashingantahe) and other elected members. At the commune level, there are magistrate courts of the place of residence (French: Tribunal de Résidence) , and at the provincial level - high courts (French Tribunaux de Grande Instance), whose decisions can be appealed to three courts of appeal located in Bujumbura, Ngozi and Gitega.

The highest court in civil and criminal cases is the Supreme Court (French: La Cour supreme). The country also has a Constitutional Court (French: La Cour Constitutionnelle), which hears cases related to the interpretation of the constitution, as well as violations of human rights.

Political parties

Before independence, more than 23 political parties were registered, of which only two had a significant influence on the life of the country - the National Party of Progress and Unity (UPRONA), founded by Prince Louis Rwagasore, and the People's Party (PP), a Hutu party. However, UPRONA, which controlled 58 of the 64 seats in the National Assembly, was subject to internal conflicts based mainly on ethnicity. Therefore, the PP merged in parliament with the Hutu wing of the UPRONA party, forming the so-called Monrovia group, and the Tutsi wing formed the Casablanca group.

In 1966, President Michombero banned all parties except UPRONA. On November 1, 1979, after the removal of Michombero as a result of a coup, the dissolution of UPRONA was announced, but already in 1979 the party again participated in public administration, and according to the 1981 constitution it was the only legal political organization in the country.

The 1993 presidential and parliamentary elections led to the defeat of the UPRONA party, when President Ndadaye's Democratic Front of Burundi (FRODEBU) party won 72% of the votes. In the 1990s, new parties emerged such as the Burundi African Salvation Alliance (ABASA), the Rally for Democracy and Economic and Social Development (RADDES), and the People's Party of Accord. There were also small rebel organizations with political influence, such as Palipehutu - National Liberation Forces and the National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Forces for the Defense of Democracy.

Currently, the most significant parties are FRODEBU, National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Front for the Defense of Democracy, UPRONA.

Armed forces

Expenditures on the armed forces amount to 5.9% of the country's GDP (2006). The total number of armed forces (March 2006) is 50,500 people, of which 89.1% are the army, 10.9% are the gendarmerie.

Foreign policy

On September 18, 1962, Burundi was admitted to the UN, is a member of the Economic Commission for Africa and almost all non-regional specialized agencies, and is a member of the international organization of ACP countries. It is also a member of the African Development Bank, the African Union, the Group of 77 and other international organizations.

It has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR on October 1, 1962).

Geography

Geographical position

Main article: Geography of Burundi

Burundi Map

Satellite image of Burundi

Relief of Burundi

Burundi is a landlocked state. The total length of the border is 974 km: in the west - with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (233 km), in the north - with Rwanda (290 km), in the east and southeast - with Tanzania (451 km). The country's area is 27,830 km², of which 25,650 km² is land. The state is located on a plateau sloping down to Lake Tanganyika in the southwest.

Relief

The country mainly consists of plateaus, with a north-south mountain range in the west that continues into Rwanda. The average height of the central plateau is from 1,525 to 2,000 m. The highest peak is Mt. Heha, located southeast of Bujumbura, reaches 2,760 meters. In the southeast and south of the country the altitude is about 1370 meters. The strip of land along the Ruzizi River north of Lake Tanganyika, part of the East African Rift Valley, is the only area of the country below 915 meters. The country's lowest point is located near Lake Tanganyika - 772 meters. Lake Tanganyika and the Ruzizi border river flowing into it lie on a plain with fertile soils that expands to the north. In the center of the country and in the east there are plains surrounded by mountains and swamps.

Geology and soils

Most of Burundi is composed of folded and slightly transformed clastic rocks of the Mesoproterozoic Kibaran Belt, which extends from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to and through Burundi and. The Kibaran rocks are mixed with granite rocks and over 350 km there is a narrow zone of mafic and ultramafic intrusions. In the eastern part of the country, the Kibaran belt is bounded by Neoproterozoic Malaragazi aqueous sediments with basal mixture, slate, dolomitic limestone and lava. In the north of Lake Tanganyika, the country is composed of sediments of the Tertiary and Quaternary periods.

The country is mainly dominated by light forest-derived soils, which form a thin layer of humus over lateritic (iron-rich) subsoils. The best soils are formed by alluvium, but they are limited to the valleys of large rivers. A serious problem is soil erosion associated with surface slopes and precipitation, as well as agricultural development.

Minerals

Burundi has significant deposits of feldspar, kaolin, phosphorus, platinum group metals, quartzite, rare earth metals, vanadium, and limestone. There are gold deposits in Mabayi, Chankuzo, Tora Ruzibazi, and Muyinga. In the provinces of Kayanza and Kirundo, deposits of cassiterite, columbitotantalite and tungsten are being developed. Nickel reserves discovered in 1974 are estimated at 370 million tons (3 - 5% of world reserves).

Climate

Burundi's climate is mainly tropical with significant daily temperature ranges. Temperatures also vary markedly depending on the altitude in different regions of the country. The average temperature in the central plateau is 20 °C, in the area around Lake Tanganyika 23 °C, in the highest mountains 16 °C. The average annual temperature in Bujumbura is 23 °C.

Precipitation is irregular and heaviest in the north-west of the country. In most of Burundi, the average annual precipitation is 1300-1600 mm, in the Ruzizi Plain and the north-eastern part of the country 750-1000 mm. There are four seasons depending on rainfall: long dry season (June - August), short wet season (September - November), short dry season (December - January) and long wet season (February - May).

Water resources

Beach on Lake Tanganyika

The main rivers are Ruzizi, Maragarazi and Ruvubu, none of which are navigable. Water from the Maragarazi and Ruzizi rivers is used for irrigation in the eastern and western parts of the country.

Rivers form most of the country's borders. Thus, Kanyara and Kagera separate Burundi from Rwanda on many parts of the common border, and the Maragarazi River forms most of the country's southern border.

The most distant source of the Nile from its mouth is located in Burundi. Although formally the Nile begins from Lake Victoria, the flow of the Nile includes the Kagera River, which flows into this lake, the sources of the upper tributary of which, the Ruvieronza River, are located on Mount Kikizi in the territory of the state.

Lake Tanganyika, located in the south and west of the country, is divided between Burundi, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the northeast of the country there are lakes Cohoho and Rugvero.

Flora and fauna

Nature in Kayanza

Burundi is primarily an agricultural, pastoral country, resulting in deforestation, soil erosion and destruction of traditional habitats. Due to overpopulation in Burundi, forests have been cut down almost throughout the country, with the exception of about 600 km². Forest area is reduced annually by 9% of the total. The remaining forests are dominated by eucalyptus, acacia, fig and oil palm. Most of the country is covered with savannah vegetation.

Burundi's fauna was rich before the development of agriculture. Currently, elephants, hippos, crocodiles, wild boars, lions, and antelopes are found in the country.

The country has an abundant avifauna. The most common are crowned cranes, guinea fowl, partridges, ducks, geese, quails, and snipes. 451 species of birds hatch their chicks in the country. Due to population growth, the populations of many species are declining or disappearing.

Lake Tanganyika is home to a large number of fish, including Nile perch and freshwater sardines. More than 130 species of fish that are found in Tanganyika are endemic.

Protected areas

Burundi has two national parks:

Kibira National Park(area 37,870 hectares) is located in the north-west of the country, adjacent to the Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda. Officially protected since 1933, it preserves a small region of montane rainforest that covers 96% of the park's area. The predominant plant species are Symphonia globulifera, Newtonia buchananii, Albizia gummifera And Entandrophragma excelsum. There are also areas occupied by mountainous swamps and bamboo Arundinaria alpine.
Ruvubu National Park(area 43,630 hectares) is located in the northeast of Burundi along the river of the same name. Created in 1980. The Ruvubu River valley forms a series of meanders bordered by swamp vegetation, forests and savannas.

Administrative division

Provinces of Burundi

The country is divided into 17 provinces, subdivided into 117 communes, which in turn are divided into 2,638 hills.

Population

Demographics

Children in Bujumbura

The country's population is 8,856,000 (2008), of which 80.9% are Hutus, 15.6% are Tutsis, 1.6% are Lingala, 1.0% are Twa pygmy people. Population density is 323.4 people per km². 10.0% of the country's population lives in cities (2005).

There are more women than men (51.18% and 48.82%) (2005). 45.1% of the population belongs to the age group up to 15 years, 29.0% - from 15 to 29 years, 13.7% - from 30 to 44 years, 8.2% - from 45 to 59 years, 3.2% - from 60 to 74 years old, 0.7% - from 75 to 84 years old, 0.1% - 85 years old and above (2005). Average life expectancy (2005): 47.0 years for men, 49.8 years for women.

Birth rate - 46 per 1000 inhabitants (2008), mortality - 16 per 1000 inhabitants (2008). Natural increase - 30 per 1000 inhabitants (2008). Infant mortality - 60.77 per 1000 newborns (2008). Economically active population (2003): 3,464,000 people (49.2%).

The migration rate is minus 12.9 people per 1000 inhabitants (or 80,001 departed) (2000).

Religion

Church in Gitega

The government of Jean-Baptiste Bagaza (1976-1987) considered the Catholic Church a pro-Hutu, destabilizing element and therefore restricted liturgies, banned religious gatherings without permission, nationalized Catholic schools, banned the Catholic youth movement and closed Catholic radio and newspapers. In 1986, Jehovah's Witnesses and Seventh-day Adventists were outlawed. In September 1987, the new President of Burundi, Pierre Buyoya, ended all persecution of the Catholic Church. Currently, most official religious holidays are Catholic. In 2002, Jehovah's Witnesses and Seventh-day Adventists were again recognized as legal missionary groups, religious freedom was constitutionally enshrined, and the heads of most religious communities were granted diplomatic status.

Christianity is professed by 92.9% of the population (2010). The largest Christian denominations are Catholics (5.85 million) and Pentecostals (1 million). Local traditional beliefs are adhered to by 5.5% of the country's residents, 130 thousand Muslims.

Traditional beliefs are based on belief in fate represented by Imans, who is the source of all life and goodness. Traditional religion is a form of animism, in which physical objects are believed to have their own spirits. There is special respect for dead ancestors. Among the Hutus, their spirits come with evil intentions; in the Tutsi faith, the influence of their ancestors is softer. Cattle also have spiritual powers.

Languages

The official languages in the country are Rhundi and French. Swahili is also a common language of trade and is spoken by about 6,400 people. Interestingly, both Hutus and Tutsis speak Rundi.

Economy

Bazaar in Bujumbura

Burundi is one of the poorest countries in the world, with over half the population living below the poverty line. About 50% of the territory is used for arable land, 36% for pastures, the remaining area is occupied mainly by forests and unsuitable land. More than 90% of the country's working population is employed in agriculture. Of all the crops grown, most remain in the domestic market of Burundi. Coffee accounts for 54% of exports. Tea, cotton and hides are also exported. Fishing is carried out in Lake Tanganyika.

Industry is poorly developed. Food and textile enterprises, as well as those producing construction materials and palm oil, are mainly owned by Europeans. Resources such as tin ore, bastnaesite, tungsten, columbitotantalit, gold and peat are mined in small quantities. Nickel and uranium deposits are mined on a small scale; the existing platinum reserves are still not exploited. Serious damage to the economy was caused by constant tribal conflicts and the threat of civil war. The country is dependent on international economic assistance and therefore has a large external debt. Inflation in 2007 was 8.3%, in 2008 - 24.5%. In 2009, GDP growth was 3.5%.

Agriculture

Harvest in Kayanza

Agriculture produces 33.5% of the country's GDP (2005). More than 90% of the country's population is involved in this industry. The total area of arable land is 1,100,000 hectares (43% of the total area), of which 74,000 hectares (6.7% of arable land) are irrigated.

Coffee and tea are the main export products: in 2001, coffee exports accounted for 54% of total exports, in 2006 - 67.7%. The country's government regulates the pricing and trade policy for coffee; all contracts for coffee exports require confirmation. There is also government support for tea and cotton production to diversify exports.

Main products for domestic consumption: cassava, beans, bananas, sweet potatoes, cereals and sorghum. Palm oil is produced on plantations along the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Tobacco and wheat are grown in mountainous areas.

The goat population in Burundi is 750,000

The production volumes of agricultural products in 2005 were: bananas 1,600,000 tons, sweet potatoes 835,000 tons, cassava 710,000 tons, beans 220,218 tons, corn 123,000 tons, sorghum 67,947 tons, rice 67,947 tons, taro 62,000 tons , peas 33,500 tons, coffee 7,800 tons, tea 7,500 tons, cotton 4,654 tons.

Traditionally, social status in Burundi depended on the number of livestock. Due to this and poor sanitary conditions, a large number of livestock with low productivity have accumulated in the country. For example, each cow produces on average only 350 liters of milk per year (17% of the world average).

The number of goats is 750,000, cattle - 396,000, sheep - 243,000 (2005), pigs - 61,000, chickens - 4 million (1999). Milk production is estimated at 23,000 tons (1999). Estimated meat consumption is only 48 calories per person per day (10% of the global average).

Industry

The country's industry was in decline for a long time under the influence of the civil war. Businesses began to recover in 1998, when production of sugar, milk, paints, soaps, bottles, pharmaceuticals and textiles was increased, a number of the country's leading factories were reconstructed, and nickel and gold mining projects were restarted.

Most industrial enterprises are located in Bujumbura and include processing of cotton, coffee, tea, vegetable oil and wood, as well as small production of drinks, soap, shoes, insecticides, building materials, furniture, etc.

The country produces columbite tantalite ore, nickel, gold, kaolin, tin and tungsten for export and limestone, peat, gravel for domestic needs.

Transport and communications

Airport in Bujumbura

The country is landlocked and has no railways. The total length of highways is 12,322 km (2004), of which only 7% are paved. The number of cars is 19,800, trucks and buses are 14,400.

Air transport is provided by Air Burundi, which operates flights within the country, as well as to and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. International flights are also carried out by Air Zaïre, Sabena and others. The airport in Bujumbura is international, in the year (2005) it receives 73,072 passengers, sends 63,908 passengers, shipped cargo - 3,093 tons, loaded - 188 tons. There are also 7 smaller airports and one airfield for landing helicopters.

Per 1,000 residents of the country there are 20 cell phones and 4.1 landline phones (2005), 4.8 personal computers (2004), 7.7 Internet users (2006).

Energy

In 2005, Burundi produced 137 million kWh of electricity (99% from hydroelectric power plants), consumption amounted to 161.4 million kWh. The country imports all petroleum products from and. The bulk (94%) of energy consumption comes from wood and peat.

Currency

The national currency is the Burundian franc (BIF), which was introduced into circulation on May 19, 1964, when banknotes of the Bank of Issue of Rwanda and Burundi in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 francs were reprinted by the Bank of the Kingdom of Burundi for circulation in the country .

In 1966, banknotes of 20 francs and above were reprinted by the Bank of the Republic of Burundi to replace the word "Kingdom" with "Republic". In 1968, 10-franc notes were replaced by coins. A 2,000 franc note was introduced in 2001, followed by a 10,000 franc note in 2004.

Foreign economic relations

Imports (2006): US$429.6 million (machinery - 21.3%, transport equipment - 15.7%, mineral fuels - 13.4%, metal structures - 7.2%, pharmaceuticals - 6.6%) . Main suppliers: (12.6%), and (11.7%), (8.2%), (7.8%), (4.7%), (4.6%).

Exports (2006): US$58.6 million (coffee - 67.7%, tea - 17.0%, leather and hides - 2.6%). Main export destinations: (34.4%), (12.3%), (7.8%), (5.1%), other EU countries (24.6%).

Culture

Literature

Due to the high level of illiteracy and poverty of the population, literature is practically absent in the country. However, the country has developed oral folk art, including legends, fables, poems, proverbs, riddles and songs, some of which have attracted the attention of folklorists and have been translated into French. There are a number of epic poems about animals. Stories and stories serve as a way to convey news. In Burundi, speech is most valued, not the accuracy of the facts conveyed.

Museums and libraries

One of the many palaces of the country's rulers - Mwami - has been preserved. Gitega is home to the National Museum (founded in 1955), which houses folk art exhibits, historical documents and objects, and also has a library. In East Africa, the city is famous for its pottery. Musée Vivant, founded in 1977 in Bujumbura, contains exhibits covering all aspects of life in the country.

There are 60 libraries in Burundi, the largest of which are located in the capital and its surroundings: the Public Library (27,000 volumes), the library of the University of Burundi (192,000 volumes), the library of the French Cultural Center (33,000 volumes).

music and dancing

The music of Burundi and Rwanda is very similar, as both countries are inhabited by Hutus and Tutsis. Songs are sung at family gatherings imviyno(rundi imvyino) with short choruses and big drum beats. Single singers or small groups perform indirimbo songs (rundi indirimbo). Men perform rhythmic songs with shouts quischongora(rundi kwishongora), and women are sentimental bilito(rundi bilito). Also typical of Burundian music is whispered singing.

The main musical instruments are inanga(rundi inanga), Idono(rundi idono), ikihusehama(rundi ikihusehama), ikembe(rundi ikimbe) and others. Drums play a role in life not only as musical instruments, but also as symbols of power and status.

The country's most famous drum ensemble is The Royal Drummers of Burundi, which consists of 20 people who learn drumming skills from generation to generation. Beginning in the 1960s, the ensemble began to give concerts in other countries of the world, albums were released Batimbo (Musiques Et Chants) (1991), Live at Real World(1993) and The Master Drummers of Burundi (1994).

Drumming is often accompanied by dancing. One of the famous Burundian dances is budomera(Rundi Budemera). The dancers perform the budmera in a circle, with the leader holding a cow's tail in his hand. During the dance, the singers glorify weddings, human relationships, the beauty of women, etc.

Holidays

Social sphere

Education

University of Burundi

Education is compulsory for children from 7 to 13 years of age. Primary education lasts 6 years and is conducted in Rundi and French. Education in secondary schools lasts 7 years, in secondary vocational educational institutions - 5 years. The only institution of higher education is the University of Burundi, founded in 1960.

An acute problem in the education sector is the lack of trained teaching and administrative personnel. Another problem remains discrimination based on ethnicity, which is reflected in the predominance of Tutsis in secondary schools and universities.

Literacy of the population (15 years and above) in 2003 was 51.6% (men - 58.5%, women - 45.2%).

data for 1998

Healthcare

Hospital in Ruyigi

The country is experiencing an extreme shortage of qualified medical personnel and medicines, which is why there are regular outbreaks of meningitis and cholera with a large number of deaths. Access to medical care is complicated by the insolvency of the population.

In the country, there is 1 doctor per 37,581 residents (200 doctors in total), 1 hospital bed - 1,657 residents (3,380 in total) (2004). At the end of 2001, the number of people living with HIV was estimated at 390 thousand people (including 8.3% of the adult population). Burundi's HIV epidemic has been on a downward trend since the late 1990s, reaching 3.3% of the adult population living with HIV by 2005, before beginning to rise again.

mass media

Although there are officially no restrictions on freedom of speech in the country, the government controls the only daily newspaper Le Renouveau du Burundi, two major radio stations and television.

Periodicals: Le Renouveau du Burundi (Burundi Renewal), Ubumwe (Unity)- government newspapers, Ndongozi (Leader)- founded by the Catholic Church, Arc-en-ciel (Rainbow)- private weekly newspaper in French.

The only TV channel La Radiodiffusion et Télévision Nationale de Burundi (RTNB) controlled by the government, broadcast in Rundi, Swahili, French and English. It was founded in 1984 and has been broadcasting programs in color since 1985. The number of televisions per 1000 inhabitants is 37 (2004).

Radio is the main source of information for the country's residents. In Burundi there are:

Radio Burundi (RTNB)- controlled by the government, broadcast in Rundi, Swahili, French and English, launched in 1960
Bonesha FM- financed by international organizations,
Radio Publique Africaine- private, financed from the UN and other foreign sources,
Radio CCIB+- funded by the Chamber of Commerce of Burundi,
Radio Culture- partially financed by the Ministry of Health,

Radio Isanganiro- private.

News agencies: Agence Burundaise de Presse (ABP)- controlled by the government, Azania, Net Press- private.

In 2006, there were 60,000 Internet users in the country. But already in 2009 the number of Internet users increased to 157,800

Sport

Burundi has participated in the Summer Olympics since 1996, sending athletes and swimmers to the Games. Burundi's only gold medal came from Venuste Niyongabo, who sensationally won gold in the 5000 m in Atlanta in 1996. The same athlete won bronze at the 1995 World Championships at a distance of 1500 meters.

At the 2016 Olympic Games in RIO DE JANEIRO in Athletics in the 800m race Francine Niyonsaba ( NIYONSABA Francine) won silver

Football Association of Burundi (French) Federation of Football du Burundi) was organized in 1948, has been a member of FIFA since 1972. The youth football team qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 1995, where they were eliminated after the group stage.

Attractions

Despite the economic backwardness of the country, Burundi has many sites visited by tourists. It is the capital with the parliament building and the former colonial administration, a city with a royal palace. Among the natural tourist sites, the most popular are Kagera waterfalls, Kibabi hot springs, Ruzizi and Ruvubu national parks, Makamba and Bururi natural reserves, and Lake Tanganyika.

Notes

States and territories of the world. Reference information // World Atlas / comp. and preparation to ed. PKO "Cartography" in 2009; Ch. ed. G. V. Pozdnyak. - M.: PKO "Cartography": Onyx, 2010. - P. 15. - ISBN 978-5-85120-295-7 (Cartography). - ISBN 978-5-488-02609-4 (Onyx).
World Atlas: Maximum detailed information / Project leaders: A. N. Bushnev, A. P. Pritvorov. - Moscow: AST, 2017. - P. 72. - 96 p. - ISBN 978-5-17-10261-4.
Burundi
Burundi. International Monetary Fund. Retrieved October 1, 2009. Archived August 23, 2011.
TSB.
Nationsencyclopedia.com. Burundi History (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008.
Historyworld.net. Ruanda-Urundi: AD 1887-1914 (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008. Archived August 23, 2011.
Iss.co.za. Burundi - History and Politics (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008. Archived August 23, 2011.
Geo-world.ru.
Uadream.com. History of Burundi (Russian). Retrieved July 6, 2008. Archived August 23, 2011.
Worldstory.ru. Recent history of Burundi (Russian). Retrieved July 6, 2008. Archived August 23, 2011.
Geogid.ru. Countries of the world - Burundi (Russian) (inaccessible link - story) . Retrieved July 6, 2008. Archived November 14, 2007.
Around the world. Burundi (Russian). Retrieved July 6, 2008. Archived August 23, 2011.
Constitution of Burundi, Art. 95, 109
Syldie Bizimana. The Burundi Legal System and Research. Retrieved July 6, 2008. Archived August 23, 2011.
Burundi set for one-name vote, Al-Jazeera (June 28, 2010).
Constitution of Burundi, art. 129
Constitution of Burundi, art. 147
CIA. Burundi on CIA Factbook. Retrieved July 6, 2008.
Senate of Burundi. The Senate composition (English). Retrieved February 6, 2009. Archived February 6, 2009.
The Law No1/ 016 of 20th April 2005 on the Organization of Municipal Administration
Constitution of Burundi, Art. 228
Nationsencyclopedia.com. Political Parties of Burundi (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008.
Britannica. World Data. Burundi (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008. Archived August 23, 2011.
Official UN website. List of UN member states (Russian). Retrieved July 6, 2008. Archived August 21, 2011.
Nationsencyclopedia.com. Topography of Burundi (English). Retrieved June 29, 2008.
Countriesquest.com. Burundian land and resources (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008. Archived August 23, 2011.
www.uguelph.ca. Geology of Burundi (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008. Archived August 23, 2011.
Britannica. Burundi (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008. Archived August 23, 2011.
Nationsencyclopedia.com. Mining of Burundi (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008.
Nationsencyclopedia.com. Climate of Burundi (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008.
Britannica. Climate of Burundi (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008. Archived August 23, 2011.
Nationsencyclopedia.com. Flora and Fauna of Burundi (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008.
Nationsencyclopedia.com. Kibira National Park (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008. Archived August 23, 2011.
BirdLife IBA Factsheet. Ruvubu National Park (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008. Archived August 23, 2011.
Statoids. Burundi Provinces (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008. Archived August 23, 2011.
Nationsencyclopedia.com. Migration in Burundi (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008.
Nationsencyclopedia.com. Religions in Burundi (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008.
J. Gordon Melton. Burundi // Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices / J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann. - Oxford, England: ABC CLIO, 2010. - P. 458. - 3200 p. - ISBN 1-57607-223-1.
Everyculture.com. Culture of Burundi (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008.
Ethnologue.com.
Britannica. Languages of Burundi (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008. Archived August 23, 2011.
Countries of the world. Modern reference book. - M.: LLC "TD "Publishing World of Books", 2005. - 416 p.
Infoplease.com. History, Geography, Government, and Culture of Burundi (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008. Archived August 23, 2011.
FACTBOX-Burundi holds elections, Reuters (24 June 2010).
Nationsencyclopedia.com. Agriculture of Burundi (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008.
Nationsencyclopedia.com. Animal Husbandry of Burundi (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008.
Nationsencyclopedia.com. Industry of Burundi (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008.
Nationsencyclopedia.com. Transport in Burundi (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008.
Nationsencyclopedia.com. Energy and Power in Burundi (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008.
Global Financial Data. The Global History of Currencies (GHOC). Burundi (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008. (unavailable link)
Based on export and import data from Encyclopedia Britannica and the official exchange rate of the Burundi franc for 2006
Travel Document Systems. Burundi Culture (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008. Archived August 23, 2011.
Library of encyclopedias for youth. Africa/Comp. V. B. Novichkov. - M.: Publishing House "Modern Pedagogy", 2001. - 148 p.
Nationsencyclopedia.com. Libraries and Museums of Burundi (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008. Archived October 2, 2013.
Wisegeek.com.
Maps Of World. The Royal Drummers of Burundi (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008. Archived August 23, 2011.
Voyage.e-monsite.com. Les Danses (French). Retrieved July 6, 2008. Archived August 23, 2011.
Worldtravelguide.net. Burundi Travel Guide - Public Holidays (English). Retrieved July 28, 2008. Archived August 23, 2011.
40th day after Easter (2009 - May 21)
Nationsencyclopedia.com. Education of Burundi (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008.
Britannica. Education of Burundi (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008. Archived August 23, 2011.
WHO. Burundi Profile. May 2007 (English) . Retrieved July 6, 2008. Archived August 23, 2011.
Nationsencyclopedia.com. Health in Burundi (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008.
BBC. Country Profile of Burundi (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008. Archived August 23, 2011.
Nationsencyclopedia.org. Media of Burundi (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008.
FIFA. Burundi (English) (inaccessible link - story) . Retrieved July 6, 2008. Archived August 23, 2011.
Maps Of World. Burundi Tourist Attractions (English). Retrieved July 6, 2008. Archived August 23, 2011.

Links

Official government website (French)
Notes on Burundi
Information about Burundi on the Russian Foreign Ministry website

Burundi's climate is equatorial, with wetter summers. Average monthly temperatures on the plateau do not fall below 21–22 °C; in the river valley. Ruzizi - below 25 °C. Precipitation - 1000–1200 mm, in the west up to 1400 mm per year - falls mainly in the hottest months and evaporates almost immediately. The largest rivers are Ruzizi, Ruvuvu, Malagarasi. The peat swamps are where the Kazumo and Akanyaru, considered the source of the Nile, originate. The vast tropical forests that once covered the country have disappeared, giving way to savannas with low-growing woodlands formed by umbrella acacias, tree-like milkweeds, single palms and tamarinds, and thorny bushes. Almost all large animals, with the exception of buffalo and antelope, have been exterminated. But the waters of Lake Tanganyika are rich in life, three quarters of whose fish live nowhere else in the world.

Almost the entire population of the country (11 million people) belongs to the related Hutu and Tutsi peoples. There are very few Twa pygmies who have long since switched from traditional hunting to agriculture. Most of the residents are Christians (mostly Catholics), the rest adhere to local traditional cults. The folk crafts of the people of Burundi have ancient traditions: a variety of pottery, woven carpets, mats, and baskets decorated with ornaments are popular. Tutsis are known as the “kings” of African dance. The main economic center and capital of the country is Bujumbura, located on the shores of Lake Tanganyika.

History of Burundi

The ancient and medieval history of Burundi is poorly studied. The first inhabitants to inhabit this region were the Twa pygmies, who were driven out around 1000 AD. e. Hutu landowners. In the 15th-16th centuries, Tutsi nomadic herders came here.

The first European to visit the territory of modern Burundi was John Hannig Speke, who traveled with Richard Burton in the area of Lake Taganika in 1858. They circled the northern end of the lake in search of the source of the Nile. In 1871, Stanley and Livingstone reached Bujumbura and explored the Ruzizi area. After the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, the German zone of influence in East Africa was expanded to the territory of modern Rwanda and Burundi. In 1894, the German Count von Goetzen discovered Lake Kivu. Four years later, the first missionaries visited the territory of modern Burundi.

Burundi became a German colony in the 1890s and was taken over by Belgium after World War I. This region was considered by the colonialists as a single state of Ruanda-Urundi. Since 1925, Ruanda-Urundi became part of the Belgian Congo, but while the Congo was ruled exclusively by Brussels, in Ruanda-Urundi power remained with the Tutsi aristocracy. Throughout the 1950s, the Belgian government, despite international pressure, refused to grant independence to its colonies. However, the situation in the colonies began to get out of control and in 1959 preparations began for granting independence to the Congo and Ruanda-Urundi. In 1961, in the elections held in Burundi, contrary to the wishes of the colonial administration, the UPRONA party won, gaining 80% of the votes and receiving 58 of the 64 seats in the legislature. Prince Rwagosore was appointed prime minister, but on October 13 he was assassinated by agents from Chrétien's opposition Democratic Party. His death destroyed the Hutu-Tutsi cohesion for which he had fought for many years.

On July 1, 1962, the independence of the Kingdom of Burundi was declared. Since independence, power in the country was in the hands of the Tutsis, who were an ethnic minority in the new state. Mwami (King) Mwambutsa IV, with the support of the ruling party Union for National Progress (UPRONA), established an authoritarian regime in the country. From the first years of independence, the UPRONA government refused to grant the Hutus equal rights. This policy fueled interethnic tensions in the country.

In October 1965, the Hutus launched an unsuccessful military coup attempt, which ended in further arrests and executions of representatives of this ethnic group. At the same time, serious disagreements began among the Tutsi leaders. A year after the Hutu rebellion was crushed, on July 8, 1966, Crown Prince Charles Ndiziye, supported by an army led by Colonel Michel Michombero, overthrew his father and assumed the throne as Ntare V. In November, in another military coup, he was overthrown by Colonel Michombero, who proclaimed Burundi a republic and himself the first president of the country. However, the Tutsi monarchists did not give up their attempts to return to power, and in 1972 they made an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the Michombero regime, which ended in massacres (former King Ntare V was killed during the suppression of the uprising).

Subsequently, the country experienced several more coup attempts, during which a military dictatorship was established in the country. In 1987, Major Pierre Buyoya came to power, during whose reign serious ethnic clashes began between Tutsis and Hutus. In the first democratic presidential elections in the country's history, held on June 1, 1993, the head of state was the Hutu representative Melchior Ndadaye, who was soon overthrown and killed by the Tutsi military. A civil war broke out in the country between two ethnic groups. However, a slight lull soon followed, and in 1994 the National Assembly elected a new president, Cyprien Ntaryamiru, whose death caused a new wave of inter-ethnic clashes. Against the backdrop of these unrest, a new military coup took place in July 1996 and Tutsi Major Pierre Buyoya came to power. The UN and OAU condemned the new military regime and imposed a number of economic sanctions against Burundi.

After several years of civil war and ethnic conflict, Burundi has returned to relative calm, largely due to the international presence in the country. President Domitien Ndayizeye and the leader of the Hutu ethnic group National Liberation Forces, Agathon Rewasa, signed an agreement to end violence following negotiations in Tanzania.

Politics of Burundi

Burundi's first constitution was adopted in 1981. According to it, the head of state and government was the president, elected for a five-year term in direct general elections. The constitution contained a provision according to which only the leader of the country’s only legal party, the Union for National Progress (UPRONA), where Tutsis played a predominant role, could be a candidate for the post of president. With the adoption of a new constitution in 1992, a multi-party system was allowed in the country, and the president began to be elected by universal suffrage. The country currently has a constitution adopted in a referendum in February 2005.

Executive power is concentrated in the hands of the President, who according to the constitution is the head of state and government. Elected by direct vote for a term of 5 years for no more than two terms. He is also the commander-in-chief of the army, the guarantor of national unity. The current head of state, Pierre Nkurunziza, was elected to this post by parliamentary vote according to the transitional constitution adopted in February 2005.

The legislative power is represented by a bicameral parliament, consisting of the National Assembly (French L "Assemblée Nationale) and the Senate. The National Assembly consists of at least 100 members elected for a term of 5 years. When forming it, ethnic (60% Hutu and 40% Tutsi) and gender (30% female) principles.The National Independent Electoral Commission also appoints additional members to represent the interests of ethnic minorities.

The Senate consists of 49 members, 34 of whom are elected indirectly for a term of 5 years, the remaining seats are distributed among ethnic minorities and former heads of state.

The legislative functions of parliament are limited by the constitution. The President, after consulting with the Constitutional Court, can pass a decree that has the power above the law.

At the lowest level, minor disputes are decided on the basis of customary law by "hill courts" (rundi intahe yo ku mugina), which consist of elders (rundi abashingantahe) and other elected members. At the commune level there are magistrate courts at the place of residence (French Tribunal de Résidence), and at the provincial level there are high courts (French Tribunaux de Grande Instance), the decisions of which can be appealed to three courts of appeal located in Bujumbura, Ngozi and Gitega.

The highest court in civil and criminal cases is the Supreme Court (French: La Cour supreme). The country also has a Constitutional Court (La Cour Constitutionnelle), which hears cases related to the interpretation of the constitution, as well as violations of human rights.

Before independence, more than 23 political parties were registered, of which only 2 had a significant influence on the life of the country - the National Party of Progress and Unity (UPRONA), founded by Prince Louis Rwagasore, and the People's Party (PP), a Hutu party. However, UPRONA, which controlled 58 of the 64 seats in the National Assembly, was subject to internal conflicts based mainly on ethnicity. Therefore, the PP merged in parliament with the Hutu wing of the UPRONA party, forming the so-called Monrovia group, and the Tutsi wing formed the Casablanca group.

In 1966, President Micombero banned all parties except UPRONA. On November 1, 1979, after the removal of Micombero as a result of a coup, the dissolution of UPRON was announced, but already in 1979 the party again participated in public administration, and according to the 1981 constitution, it was the only legal political organization in the country.

Currently, the most significant parties are FRODEBU, National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Front for the Defense of Democracy, UPRONA.

On September 18, 1962, Burundi was admitted to the UN, is a member of the Economic Commission for Africa and virtually all non-regional specialized agencies. It is also a member of the African Development Bank, the African Union, the Group of 77 and other international organizations.

Geography of Burundi

The country mainly consists of plateaus, with a north-south mountain range in the west that continues into Rwanda. The average height of the central plateau is from 1,525 to 2,000 m. The highest peak, Mount Hekha, located southeast of Bujumbura, reaches 2,760 meters. In the southeast and south of the country the altitude is about 1370 meters. The strip of land along the Ruzuzi River north of Lake Tanganyika, part of the East African Rift Valley, is the only area of the country below 915 meters. The country's lowest point is located near Lake Tanganyika - 772 meters. Lake Tanganyika and the Ruzizi border river flowing into it lie on a plain with fertile soils that expands to the north. In the center of the country and in the east there are plains surrounded by mountains and swamps.

Most of Burundi is composed of folded and slightly transformed clastic rocks of the Mesoproterozoic Kibaran Belt, which extends from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Tanzania and Uganda through Burundi and Rwanda. The Kibaran rocks are mixed with granite rocks and over 350 km there is a narrow zone of mafic and ultramafic intrusions. In the eastern part of the country, the Kibaran belt is bounded by Neoproterozoic Malaragazi aqueous sediments with basal mixture, slate, dolomitic limestone and lava. In the north of Lake Tanganyika, the country is composed of sediments of the Tertiary and Quaternary periods.

Burundi has significant deposits of feldspar, kaolin, phosphorus, platinum group metals, quartzite, rare earth metals, vanadium, and limestone. There are gold deposits in Mabayi, Cankuzo, Tora Ruzibazi, and Muyinga. In the provinces of Kayanza and Kirundo, deposits of cassaterite, columbite-tantalite and tungsten are being developed. Nickel reserves discovered in 1974 are estimated at 370 million tons (3-5% of world reserves).

Burundi's climate is mainly tropical with significant daily temperature ranges. Temperatures also vary markedly with altitude in different regions of the country. The average temperature in the central plateau is 20 °C, in the area around Lake Tanganyika 23 °C, in the highest mountains 16 °C. The average annual temperature in Bujumbura is 23 °C.

The main rivers are Ruzizi, Malagarasi and Ruvuvu, none of which are navigable. Water from the Malagarasi and Ruzizi rivers is used for irrigation in the eastern and western parts of the country.

Rivers form most of the country's borders. Thus, Kanyari and Kagera separate Burundi from Rwanda on many parts of the common border, and the Malagarasi River forms most of the country's southern border.

The most distant source of the Nile from its mouth is located in Burundi. Although formally the Nile begins from Lake Victoria, the Kagera River, which flows into this lake, belongs to the Nile flow, the sources of the upper tributary of which, the Ruwiironza River, are located on Mount Kikizi in Burundi.

Lake Tanganyika, located in the south and east of the country, is divided between Burundi, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the northeast of the country there are lakes Cohoho and Rugvero.

Burundi's fauna was rich before the development of agriculture. Currently, elephants, hippopotamuses, crocodiles, wild boars, lions, antelopes, and woolly wings are found in the country.

Lake Tanganyika is home to a large number of fish, including Nile perch and freshwater sardines. More than 130 species of fish that are found in Tanganyika are endemic.

Economy of Burundi

Burundi is one of the poorest countries in the world, with over half the population living below the poverty line. About 50% of the territory is used for arable land, 36% for pastures, the remaining area is occupied mainly by forests and unsuitable land. More than 90% of the country's working population is employed in agriculture. Of all the crops grown, most remain in the Burundian domestic market. Coffee accounts for 54% of exports. Tea, cotton and hides are also exported. Fishing is carried out in Lake Tanganyika.

Culture of Burundi

Due to the low level of literacy and poverty of the population, literature is practically absent in the country. However, the country has developed oral folk art, including legends, fables, poems, proverbs, riddles and songs, some of which have attracted attention and have been translated into French. There are a number of epic poems about animals. Stories and stories serve as a way to convey news. In Burundi, speech is most valued, not the accuracy of the facts conveyed.

One of the many “palaces” of the country’s rulers, the Mwami, has been preserved. Gitega is home to the National Museum (founded in 1955), which houses folk art exhibits, historical documents and objects, and also has a library. In East Africa, the city is famous for its pottery. The Musée Vivant, founded in 1977 in Bujumbura, contains exhibits covering all aspects of life in the country.

There are 60 libraries in Burundi, the largest of which are located in the capital and its surroundings: the Public Library (27,000 volumes), the library of the University of Burundi (192,000), the library of the French Cultural Center (33,000 volumes).

The music of Burundi and Rwanda is very similar, as both countries are inhabited by Hutus and Tutsis. At family gatherings, imvyino songs are sung with short choruses and large drum beats. Single singers or small groups perform indirimbo songs (rundi indirimbo). Men perform rhythmic songs with cries of kwishongora, and women perform sentimental bilito. Also typical of Burundian music is “whisper singing”.

The main musical instruments are inanga, idono, ikihusehama, ikimbe and others. Drums play a role in life not only as musical instruments, but also as symbols of power and status.

The country's most famous drum troupe is The Royal Drummers of Burundi, which consists of 20 members who learn drumming skills from generation to generation. Since the 1960s, the ensemble began to tour with concerts in other countries of the world; the albums “Batimbo (Musiques Et Chants)” (1991), “Live at Real World” (1993) and “The Master Drummers of Burundi” (1994) were released. ).

Drumming is often accompanied by dancing. One of the famous Burundian dances is Budemera. The dancers perform the budmera in a circle, with the leader holding a cow's tail in his hand. During the dance, the singers glorify weddings, human relationships, the beauty of women, etc.

Useful information for tourists about Burundi, cities and resorts in the country. As well as information about the population, currency of Burundi, cuisine, features of visa and customs restrictions of Burundi.

Geography of Burundi

The Republic of Burundi is a small state in central Africa, one of the poorest countries in the world. It borders Rwanda to the north, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Tanzania to the east and southeast. It has no access to the sea. In the southwest it borders Lake Tanganyika.

Most of the territory of Burundi is occupied by a mountainous plateau with an altitude of 1400 to 1800 m. A narrow strip of territory in the west lies in the region of the East African Rift Zone.

The main rivers of the country are Ruzizi, Malagarasi and Ruvuvu. The southern source of the White Nile is also located in Burundi.

State

State structure

A presidential republic consisting of 15 provinces. The head of state is the president. The legislative body is the National Assembly.

Language

Official language: French, Kirundi

Kirundi is a Bantu language widely spoken throughout the country. Regardless of ethnic origin, all citizens of the country use it in communication. The second official language is French. Swahili is more of a commercial language and is widely spoken in the capital Bujumbura.

Religion

Approximately 78% of residents are Catholic, 5% are Protestant and 32% adhere to local traditional beliefs. One of the reasons for the rapid increase in the number of Christian churches was their important role in the development of the educational system.

Currency

International name: BIF

Currency can be exchanged in hotels and banks or use the services of street money changers.

Popular attractions

Tourism in Burundi

Where to stay

Analyzing the hotel sector of Burundi, it should first of all be noted that the bulk of the country's hotels are located in its capital, Bujumbura. There is a difference between luxury and budget accommodation, but it is not colossal, so the choice for sophisticated (and others are unlikely to look into this corner of the planet remote from European civilization) foreign tourists is quite obvious. Moreover, the prices are quite reasonable. In any case, travelers who have ventured on an exotic adventure will certainly allocate in their budget an expense item for an elite club hotel of about 100-200 dollars for a luxury room. Half the price, that is, the price of a standard room, will cost you a two-story bungalow with several rooms, offices, a kitchen and bedrooms. There is no tourist rush in the country, so you can easily rent a room or apartment on the spot.

Purchases

In markets and small private shops, it is recommended to bargain - this is not only a common, but also an expected procedure.

Medicine

The country is experiencing an extreme shortage of qualified medical personnel and medicines, which is why there are regular outbreaks of meningitis and cholera with a large number of deaths.

Safety

When entering the country, you must have a certificate of vaccination against yellow fever and take anti-malarial prophylaxis.

Burundi ranks among the highest in the world in terms of the number of AIDS cases.

The state in the northeastern part of Africa seems very tiny compared to its neighbors; its name is Burundi. The country, located on a plateau between the Nile and Congo river valleys, is not popular among tourists. It has a modest territory of 27.8 square kilometers, bordered by Tanzania in the southeast, Rwanda in the north and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the west. This country is included in the list of the most undeveloped countries in the world; since the end of the nineteenth century it was a colony of Germany, and in the second half of the twentieth (until 1962) it belonged to Belgium. On July 1, 1962, the country gained independence and an authoritarian royal regime was established, which was sometimes replaced by a military dictatorship after coups. It was only in 1981 that the state adopted its own constitution and elected a president.

The official languages of Burundi are Rundi and French. The capital of the republic is the city of Bujumbura.

The territory of the republic is home to the Hutu people and the Tutsi tribe, which accounts for about 15 percent of the population. In the last few years, the birth rate has almost tripled the death rate, hence the population has increased significantly. The number of inhabitants according to the latest census is more than 10 million people.

The Republic of Burundi is a secular state that has no official religion. The country's constitution guarantees freedom of religion, but the country's authorities require communities to register with the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

According to statistics, 92 percent of Burundi profess Catholicism, and the remaining 8% are adherents of Protestant movements.

Regions and resorts.

Like many African countries, Burundi gained independence in the late seventies, headed by a president, and legislative power vested in parliament. Burundi consists of 17 provinces, which are divided into 117 communes and further into several thousand hills.

There are three regions in Burundi that are worth visiting.

Tanganyika. This is a lake that is the hallmark of Africa. Here you will find everything a tourist needs: clean beaches, magnificent views, expensive hotels and all kinds of water activities.
National parks in the north of the country. The most interesting natural spots are located in the northeast and northwest of the country. National parks amaze with their beauty and pristine nature. If you wish, you can visit all three national parks in one day, but if you are a lover of leisurely admiration of the gifts of nature and its splendor, then it is worth staying longer.
Central part of the country. This includes all the major cities of the republic with their churches, palaces, museums, stadiums, cozy streets, shops and cafes. These are the capital of Burundi - the city of Bujumbura and the city of Gitera.

Difference in time.

Time difference between Burundi and other cities:

with Kaliningrad there is no time difference,
with Moscow+1,
with Samara+2,
with Ekaterinburg+3,
with Omsk+4,
from Krasnoyarsk+5,
from Irkutsk+6,
with Yakutsk+7,
with Vladivostok+8,
with Magadan+9,
with Kamchatka+10.

Climate.

Due to its location south of the equator, Burundi enjoys a mild and warm climate. The whole country is located on a natural hill, on a plateau, the height of which reaches 1600-1800 meters above sea level. Only in the southern part of the republic there are regions with lower altitudes, not exceeding 800-900 meters.

The natural conditions of Burundi can be roughly divided into several seasons:

June August. At this time, winter reigns in the southern hemisphere, and cold breezes blow over the country, the sun shines brightly, and there is practically no rain.
August - October. During this period, the air temperature reaches its maximum, but with the onset of the rainy season, the thermometer returns to average values.
October - June. During this period, moderate rainfall occurs over the territory of Burundi; the higher the region is located, the more precipitation falls annually. Regions located on the plateau receive about 1200-1400 millimeters of precipitation per year, and in the western regions, which are considered lower and warmest, it rains the least.

Having analyzed all of the above, it is worth noting that the most favorable period for visiting Burundi is from November to January. Minimal precipitation and warm weather will make your stay comfortable.

Visa and customs.

To visit Burundi, citizens of the Russian Federation need a visa. It is believed that only those citizens in whose countries there is no Burundi consulate can apply for a visa when entering the country. In practice, migration services do not pay attention to this, and any citizen who crosses the border of the republic will be able to obtain a visa. If you plan to stay in the country for a long time, and the purpose of your trip is not tourism, then take care of obtaining a visa in advance. To do this, you can contact the official consulate of Burundi located in Moscow or in countries neighboring the republic.

Applying for a visa at the consulate. In order to obtain a visa at the consulate in advance, you will need the following documents:

a foreign passport that is valid at the time of entry into the country;
3 photos;
three questionnaires filled out by the tourist in French and English;
hotel reservation confirmation;
certificate of vaccination against yellow fever;
return ticket.

When going on a trip, remember that the minimum period for obtaining a visa through the embassy will be 15 days from the date of submission of documents. The list of documents may vary depending on the embassy where the visa is issued. For example, in countries neighboring Burundi, invitations and air tickets are not required; a foreign passport, one application form and two photographs are sufficient.

Visa on arrival.

To smoothly pass through passport control you must have:

valid passport,
return tickets (in case of transit through the country, tickets to third countries).

Please note that a transit visa is valid for 72 hours, a tourist visa is valid for up to one calendar month from the date of its issuance. When obtaining a visa, tourists who cross countries in transit need to pay a visa fee of $40, and those who apply for a tourist visa need to pay $90.

Every traveler, when visiting a new country, should know the basic customs rules for the import and export of goods, so as not to get into an awkward situation at customs.

You can import duty free into Burundi:

Currency. The import and export of foreign currency is not limited, subject to its mandatory declaration, and local currency can be exported in an amount not exceeding 2000 Bufr.
Alcohol. You can bring up to one liter of alcohol per person into the country duty-free.
Cigarettes. You are allowed to carry up to 100 cigarettes, 50 cigars and 500 grams of tobacco.
Peculiarities. Perfumes and cosmetics can be imported only for personal use. You are allowed to bring a camera duty free, but radio equipment is subject to duty. It is strictly prohibited to import radioactive materials, drugs, weapons, military uniforms, and mercury into the country. The export of gold bars, rough diamonds, rare animals and ivory is prohibited.

How to get there.

Burundi is an African state that is located almost on the equator, so you can get here only in two ways: by land transport from neighboring countries or by plane.

There are no direct flights from the Russian Federation; at least one transfer will be required. There are several flight options offered by international airlines:

Moscow - Dubai - Nairobi - Bujumbura. (“Emirates” and “Kenya airways”).
Moscow - Frankfurt - am Main - Addis - Ababa - Bujumbura (Ethiopian airlines).
Moscow - Brussels - Bujumbura (Brussels airlines).
Moscow - Amsterdam - Nairobi - Bujumbura (KLM and Kenya airways).

Ticket prices vary depending on the carrier, flight duration and number of transfers. The average cost of a round trip ticket will be 40,000 rubles, and travel time will be from 25 to 36 hours.

There is no rail transport in Burundi, so rail transport is not possible.

Automobile.

Despite the fact that there are no problems with land border crossings, traveling by car is difficult and pointless. An exception to the rule may be extreme sports enthusiasts who decide to go on a Trans-African journey.

The capital of Burundi can be reached from neighboring countries. There are bus connections with Kigali and Kigoma, and it is worth checking in advance about the availability of flights from Kampala.

Lake Tanganyika is navigable, however, passenger traffic is extremely rare here. There is hope that in the future the ferry service will be established, and it will also be possible to get to the republic by water.

Excursions.

Constant political conflicts have made the situation in this African country unstable, depriving it of the main influx of tourists. If you decide to discover Burundi from a new side, admiring and admiring its historical and natural attractions, then you need to know the most popular excursions here:

sightseeing tour of the capital of the republic - the city of Bujumbura;
sightseeing tour to Gitega;
Kagera waterfalls;
National parks;
Lake Tanganyika.

Transport.

Burundi is a small country and you can cross it from one end to the other in a few hours. How is it customary to travel in the republic, and which type of transport is most comfortable for travelers?

It is difficult to single out any transport company in Burundi. In order to get to the desired region, just come to the bus station, the dispatcher will direct you to the desired flight. The buses have survived more than a dozen years and, despite this, they are “on the move”, they are quite fast and comfortable. If you are traveling with bulky luggage, then most likely a special person will send it to the roof of the bus, securing it with ropes, and return it to you safe and sound at the end of the trip.

Car rent.

You can rent a car in one of the showrooms that sell used cars. In order to rent a car, you must have an international driving license. When signing a rental contract, you will not be required to provide a deposit, simply by providing the original documents for the car. The average cost of renting a car per day is $30. Please note that there are no traffic rules in Burundi, and if there are, no one follows them. There are also no traffic lights or traffic controllers, so to avoid problems, rent a car only if you are not afraid of poor-quality dirt roads and chaos on the roadway. In other cases, if necessary, it is better to use the services of a taxi or public transport.

Hitchhiking is another popular form of transportation around the country. The locals, not spoiled by the attention of tourists, will happily give you a ride to anywhere in Burundi if you happen to be on the way. They are so happy to communicate with white-skinned travelers that they can not only tell you about their culture and way of life, but also invite you home for a cup of tea.

There are no official taxi services in Burundi; private cabs are used. It is better to agree on the cost of the trip, as well as the route, with the driver in advance. Motorcycle and bicycle taxis are popular in the country. Many locals use bicycle taxis to get to another city.

Communication and Wi-Fi.

There are several local operators operating in the country: Lacell, Leo, Econet, Telecel-Burundi, Africell. You can buy a SIM card and top up your account from sellers in bright vests on the streets of the republic.

3G only works in the center of Bujumbura, there are Internet cafes in some cities, hotels provide free Wi-Fi for an additional fee even to those who are not their guests.

Roaming in Burundi can be used by all MTS and Megafon subscribers; the best signal can be traced in the western part.

Money.

The national currency of Burundi is the Burundian franc, which is designated BIF; 1 franc is 100 centimes.

There may be difficulties with currency exchange, so you should take care of this before your vacation. Officially, you can exchange currency in banks, which are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a break of several hours. If absolutely necessary, you can change currency at exchange offices, at a hotel or at the airport. Street money changers are also very popular; the Burundian franc exchange rate is somewhat more favorable than in the bank, but beware of scammers.

In order to understand how much money you need to take with you on a trip, you need to roughly navigate the prices of Burundi for food, accommodation, and excursions.

You can have lunch at an inexpensive restaurant for 400 rubles per person, and dinner for two will cost more than 2,000 rubles. A cup of coffee will cost 120 rubles, and a bottle of local beer will cost 118 rubles.

If you prefer to create your own menu and cook your favorite dishes even on vacation, then you can visit local markets or supermarkets. Here is an approximate list of prices for the most popular food products:

Potatoes - 103 rubles,
Tomatoes - 140 rubles,
Cheese - 472 rubles,
Milk - 100 rubles,
Bread - 134 rubles,
Still water - 98 rubles,
Beer - 156 rubles,
A pack of cigarettes - 1106 rubles.

It is possible to move around the country on your own and visit attractions at a convenient time in Burundi. Transport fares will pleasantly surprise you:

bus ticket - 165 rubles (one way),
taxi ride - 235 rubles (base price),
the price of a liter of gasoline is 100 rubles.

If you want to update your wardrobe in Burundi, then head to the local shops and malls. A new pair of jeans will cost you 1,600 rubles, a dress from a famous brand - 1,660 rubles, Nike sports shoes - 2,400 rubles, and a pair of men's shoes - 5,300 rubles.

It is best to go on a tour of Burundi as part of an organized group; the price of the tour will vary depending on the components: transfer, duration of the trip, as well as additional options. The average price for a sightseeing tour of the National Parks of Burundi is $120.

How to avoid problems.

Despite the fact that Burundi has been living in peace for some time, the situation in the republic remains tense. To prevent your vacation from turning into trouble, and to leave only positive impressions of the country, every tourist should adhere to basic safety rules.

You should not travel outside the capital at night, try to avoid visits to remote areas.
Keep a close eye on your belongings and money in large crowds of people. Particular attention should be paid when visiting the central market of Bujumbura, where the incidence of pickpocketing and fraud is highest.
The directions leading to the north - to the provinces of Cibitoke and Bubanza - are considered unfavorable for traveling by car.
The situation on the border with Congo is unstable, so it is not recommended to visit these places alone after dark.
There are a large number of poisonous snakes in Burundi, so when going outdoors you need to take anti-snake serum with you.
When crossing the border, in addition to documents, the traveler must have a medical certificate of vaccination against yellow fever.
To avoid contracting one of the many diseases that are common on the African continent, you should not start eating without washing your hands and under no circumstances drink from the tap.
Do not carry jewelry, mobile phones or large sums of money with you.
Do not photograph military installations.

Big cities.

The largest cities in Burundi are: Bujumbura, Guitera.

Shopping.

As souvenirs from Burundi you can bring baskets, mats, shields, cases, figurines of animals and beasts, which are sold everywhere in souvenir shops or craft markets. If you buy goods at the market, do not forget to bargain; local sellers greatly inflate the initial price. There are two Chinese stores in the capital where you can find dishes, tools and clothes. The local population practically does not drink coffee, but they grow it in large quantities for sale.

Kitchen.

In Burundi, the influence of long years of colonization can be seen, there are notes of Belgian and French cuisine with characteristics characteristic of an African country.

The Burundian diet is based on three staple foods: legumes, rice and matoke bananas. Fish is present in Burundian cuisine, but in small quantities. It is mainly brought from Lake Tanganyika; some varieties of fish are dried, so it tolerates transportation better and can be stored for a longer time. Chefs of local restaurants recommend trying freshwater sardines and Nile perch. Burundi can hardly be called a fruit paradise, but, in any case, the local population does not experience a shortage of bananas, passion fruit and corn.

Meat dishes are very rare for this country due to its poverty. Despite the fact that most of the population is Catholic, they practically do not use beef for food, among Burundians the cow is a sacred animal.

Dessert is usually served with dates or bananas mixed with sugar and butter.

The country is famous for its unusual beer, the strength of which is 28%. The thing is that it is made from bananas, of which there are a lot in this country.

Entertainment and attractions.

Despite the small size and remoteness of the republic, there is something to see here. The most popular excursions are:

Lake Tanganyika. The main attraction, which territorially belongs not only to Burundi. The length of the lake is about 600 square kilometers. It is considered the main waterway of the republic; it is here that the best tourist infrastructure is concentrated, surrounded by stunning scenery.
Karera Falls. Picturesque cascades of falling water are located in the south of the country. The highest of these waterfalls reaches eighty meters. Near the waterfall you can see a special font where the newly elected emperor was washed with water.
Ruvubu National Park. It is located on the banks of the river of the same name in the eastern part of the country. Here you can admire hippos, antelopes, leopards, even lions. Special safe routes are organized for tourists.
Kibira National Park. Located in the northwestern part of the country, it is famous for its tropical forests and unique wildlife. In the twentieth century, these territories were a favorite place for walks of the royal family.
Rusizi National Park. It is located near the capital of the republic, so getting here will not be difficult.
Teza tea plantations. Tea from local plantations is known far beyond the borders of Burundi. As a souvenir, you can purchase ready-made tea products in the souvenir shop.
Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The main Catholic shrine is located in the capital of Burundi. The construction of the temple was completed in the sixties of the last century. There are no luxurious interior decorations, but the special atmosphere reigning inside attracts many tourists.
Saga Beach. The second name of this picturesque place is “Coconut Beach”. It is located on the shores of freshwater Lake Tanganyika. This is a great place for a relaxing family holiday and contemplation of natural beauty, which, after dark, becomes one large open-air dance floor.
German Gorge. A unique natural attraction with stunning landscapes. There are specially laid hiking trails, observation decks, and an overnight camp.

Holidays and events.

Historical facts.

The country of Burundi is located on the shores of the world famous natural attraction - Lake Tanganyika. It, like Baikal, is distinguished by its crystal purity and transparency and is the longest freshwater lake.
The republic contains about 5% of nickel, gold and platinum ore reserves.
The source of the Nile is located in Burundi.
The government of Burundi accused the stork of espionage and subsequently imprisoned him.
The stars that are on the country's national flag symbolize ethnic animals.
The rights of refugees and orphans after the civil war in Burundi were defended by Margaret Barankits, who became the first laureate of the humanitarian award.
There are no hospitals in the country; there are about 200 doctors for the entire population. Consequently, one doctor must serve 37,500 inhabitants if necessary, and more than 1,000 Burundians will compete for one hospital bed.
Due to the high poverty threshold of the population, Burundi is deprived of literature, and the only way to transmit news is the dialogue of residents.
There is one university in the republic, which every more or less literate person can get into; as a rule, these are the children of wealthy citizens.

A holiday in Burundi can give you positive emotions and leave a pleasant impression if you adhere to safety rules and do not neglect the advice of experienced tourists.

You should not be in areas remote from the center after dark.
Avoid crowded areas to protect yourself from theft of personal belongings.
If you are used to following international traffic rules, then you should not rent a car. The roads in Burundi are poorly paved, and the local population practically does not adhere to traffic rules.
All hotels in Burundi have modest furnishings and a limited range of services, so when going on holiday to this country you should not hope for a luxury room in a five-star hotel.
The main problem of the country is the virtual lack of qualified medical care and the availability of necessary medicines.
Avoid drinking tap water and avoiding street food to reduce your risk of infection.
You should not carry jewelry, expensive phones or cameras with you.
Exchange currency only at banks or official exchange offices.
Follow the rules of this country, otherwise you risk ending up in a local prison, where conditions for prisoners are not the best.

Burundi is home to the tallest people in the world. They are representatives of the Tutsi people. The average height of men is 190 centimeters, and that of women is 175 centimeters.
Burundi has no rail links and paved roads are extremely rare.
Mobile phones and computers are very rare in this country; their lucky owners are people who are rich by local standards.
The largest crocodile was caught in Burundi. Its length reached six meters, and it weighed a whole ton.
Burundi is the birthplace of Dutch roses.
About half of the banana harvest is used to produce local beer. The strength of banana beer is 28%.
The plot of the film "George of the Jungle" tells about events in the fictional country of Bujumbura. This name coincides with the name of the capital of Burundi.
Lake Tangainka is a unique natural reserve, because there are 120 species of fish and animals that are listed in the Red Book.
The City Drummers Ensemble participates in all city events and is national pride.

Bujumbura 04:46 16°C
slightly cloudy

Hotels

Burundi is not popular with tourists, so the choice of hotels here is very limited. The service depends on the room rate: the higher it is, the better the service, the cleaner and more equipped the rooms. The situation with water and electricity is not always favorable. Therefore, if you value basic comfort, we recommend not saving on a hotel.

Most of the country's hotels are concentrated in the capital Bujumbura. All of them are centrally located within walking distance of government buildings and the business center.

Burundi attractions

There are not many attractions in Burundi that can interest tourists. The exception is Lake Tanganyika. The guidebooks dubbed it “Baikal’s younger brother.” Indeed: these lakes are similar in shape, characteristics of origin and depth (Baikal takes first place in depth, Tanganyika - second). Despite the proximity of the city, the water in the lake is clean. Local residents love their lake and do not dump garbage on the shore. In deserted areas you can even swim.

The Ruvuvu, Kibira, and Ruzizi national parks are aimed at preserving endangered species of animals and plants.

Museums

The National Museum of Burundi will tell you about the historical information of the country. In the permanent exhibition you can see photographs of the country's monarchy, national clothing of the Burundians, national drums and other musical instruments.

Climate of Burundi:: Equatorial. High plateau with high altitude (from 772 m to 2670 m above sea level). The average annual temperature varies with altitude from 23 to 17 degrees Celsius. The average altitude is about 1700 m. The average annual precipitation is about 150 cm. There are two wet seasons (February-May and September to November), and two dry seasons (June to August and December).

Resorts

The coast of Lake Tanganyika is a place where you can relax and swim. The beach is sandy and clean, which is very rare for the African coast. There is a modest infrastructure: a couple of sea restaurants, you can rent a sun lounger and an umbrella.

Leisure

The only entertainment for tourists is safaris and car tours. The country is small, there is not much entertainment.

Landscape of Burundi:: Hilly and mountainous, desert on the plateau, in the east, some plains.

Transport

Burundi has an international airport. Public transport is represented by taxis, buses and motorbikes.

Standard of living

Burundi is the poorest country in the world, with 60% of the population living below the poverty line. The average life expectancy is only 40 years. The reason for this is poorly developed healthcare, the spread of infectious diseases, poverty, and constant interethnic clashes. The country is rich in mineral resources, but the mining industry is not developed due to the lack of any basic infrastructure.

Burundi has resources like: Nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, vanadium, arable land, hydropower, niobium, tantalum, gold, tin, tungsten, kaolin, limestone.

Cities of Burundi

Bujumbura is the capital and largest city of the country. The name of the capital is translated from the Rundi language as “market where they sell potatoes.” The city is located on the coast of Lake Tanganyika and is the country's largest port. The city center is built in a colonial style, or rather, all that remains of it.

Population

Coordinates

Bujumbura

Bujumbura Mary

3.3822 x 29.3644

Muyinga Province

2.8451 x 30.3414

Ruyigi Province

3.47639 x 30.24861

Gitega Province

3.4264 x 29.9308

Ngozi Province

2.9075 x 29.8306

Rutana Province

3.9279 x 29.992

Bururi Province

Burundi: map and description of the country. Education

Story

Ancient period

Colonial period

Political structure

Constitution

Executive branch

Legislature

Judicial branch

Political parties

Armed forces

Foreign policy

Geography

Geographical position

Relief

Geology and soils

Minerals

Climate

Water resources

Flora and fauna

Protected areas

Administrative division

Population

Demographics

Religion

Languages

Economy

Agriculture

Industry

Transport and communications

Energy

Currency

Foreign economic relations

Culture

Literature

Museums and libraries

music and dancing

Holidays

Social sphere

Education

Healthcare

mass media

Sport

Attractions

see also

Notes

Links

History of Burundi

Politics of Burundi

Geography of Burundi

Economy of Burundi

Culture of Burundi

Geography of Burundi

State

State structure

Language

Religion

Currency

Popular attractions

Tourism in Burundi

Where to stay

Purchases

Medicine

Safety

Regions and resorts.

Difference in time.

Climate.

Visa and customs.

How to get there.

Excursions.

Transport.

Communication and Wi-Fi.

Money.

How to avoid problems.

Big cities.

Shopping.

Kitchen.

Entertainment and attractions.

Holidays and events.

Historical facts.