47 Facts About Burundi

For more than 200 of those years, Burundi was an independent kingdom, until the beginning of the 20th century, when Germany ruled the region.

Burundi gained independence in 1962 and initially had a monarchy, but a series of assassinations, coups and a general climate of regional instability culminated in the establishment of a republic and a one-party state in 1966.

In October 2016, Burundi informed the UN of its intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court.

The official languages of Burundi are Kirundi, French, and English, Kirundi being recognised officially as the sole national language.

One of the smallest countries in Africa, Burundi's land is used mostly for subsistence agriculture and grazing, which has led to deforestation, soil erosion and habitat loss.

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Burundi is the poorest country according to gross domestic product per capita, with $272 in 2022, and a least developed country, facing widespread poverty, corruption, instability, authoritarianism, and illiteracy.

Burundi is densely populated, and many young people emigrate in search of opportunities elsewhere.

Burundi is a member of the African Union, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement.

Burundi is one of the few countries in Africa, along with its neighbour Rwanda among others, to be a direct territorial continuation of a pre-colonial era African state.

The Kingdom of Burundi, or Urundi, in the Great Lakes region was a polity ruled by a traditional monarch with several princes beneath him; succession struggles were common.

The Kingdom of Burundi was characterised by a hierarchical political authority and tributary economic exchange.

Burundi ceased to be a monarchy when king Ntare V Ndizeye was deposed by his Prime Minister and Chief of Staff, Capt.

The German army stationed in Burundi was forced to retreat by the numerical superiority of the Belgian army and by 17 June 1916, Burundi and Rwanda were occupied.

On 20 October 1924, Ruanda-Urundi, which consisted of modern-day Rwanda and Burundi, became a Belgian League of Nations mandate territory, with Usumbura as its capital.

Burundi's push for independence was influenced by the Rwandan Revolution and the accompanying instability and ethnic conflict that occurred there.

Burundi became a constitutional monarchy with Mwami Mwambutsa IV, Prince Rwagasore's father, serving as the country's king.

Burundi imposed a staunch regime of law and order and sharply repressed Hutu militarism.

Burundi's administration drafted a new constitution in 1981, which maintained Burundi's status as a one-party state.

Burundi reinstated military rule by a Military Committee for National Salvation .

Burundi became the first Hutu head of state, leading a pro-Hutu government.

Burundi suspended the constitution and was sworn in as president in 1998.

On 28 August 2000, a transitional government for Burundi was planned as a part of the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement.

Congo and Burundi relaunched the regional Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries.

Burundi returned to Burundi, began purging his government, and arrested several of the coup leaders.

Currently, Burundi remains as one of the poorest nations on Earth, based on a Gross National Income of $270.

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Burundi's legislative branch is a bicameral assembly, consisting of the Transitional National Assembly and the Transitional Senate.

Burundi's president appoints officials to his Council of Ministers, which is part of the executive branch.

Burundi's government has been repeatedly criticised by human rights organisations including Human Rights Watch for the multiple arrests and trials of journalist Jean-Claude Kavumbagu for issues related to his reporting.

Burundi officially left the International Criminal Court on 27 October 2017, the first country in the world to do so.

The ICC announced on 9 November 2017 that human rights violations from the time Burundi was a member would still be prosecuted.

In July 2022, the government of Burundi announced a complete overhaul of the country's territorial subdivisions.

Burundi is a part of the Albertine Rift, the western extension of the East African Rift.

Burundi is bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and southeast, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west.

Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector.

Burundi joined the East African Community in 2009, which should boost its regional trade ties, and in 2009 received $700 million in debt relief.

In regards to telecommunications infrastructure, Burundi is ranked 2nd to last in the World Economic Forum's Network Readiness Index – an indicator for determining the development level of a country's information and communication technologies.

Burundi ranked number 147 overall in the 2014 NRI ranking, down from 144 in 2013.

Burundi is part of the East African Community and a potential member of the planned East African Federation.

Economic growth in Burundi is relatively steady but Burundi is still behind neighbouring countries.

Burundi had the tenth highest total fertility rate in the world, just behind Somalia, in 2021.

Burundi has the severest hunger and malnourishment rates of all 120 countries ranked in the Global Hunger Index.

Burundi, again, went into a violent cycle in 2015, jeopardising the citizens of Burundi's medical care.

The current violence in Burundi has limited the country's access to medication and hospital equipment.

Burundi's culture is based on local tradition and the influence of neighbouring countries, though cultural prominence has been hindered by civil unrest.

The world-famous Royal Drummers of Burundi, who have performed for over 40 years, are noted for traditional drumming using the karyenda, amashako, ibishikiso and ikiranya drums.

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Data are unavailable on output on nutritional sciences, the institute's area of specialization, but between 2011 and 2019, Burundi scientists produced seven articles on each of HIV and tropical communicable diseases and a further five on tuberculosis, all focus areas for the Sustainable Development Goals.

Burundi has almost tripled its scientific output since 2011 but the pace has not picked up since the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015.