Burundi
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Burundi Introduction Current issues: in a number of waves since October 1993, hundreds of thousands of refugees have fled the ethnic violence between the Hutu and Tutsi factions in Burundi and crossed into Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zaire (now called Democratic Republic of the Congo); since October 1996, an estimated 92,000 Hutu refuguees have been forced to return to Burundi by Tutsi rebel forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, leaving an estimated 35,000 still dispersed there; in Burundi, the ethnic violence between the Hutus and the Tutsis continued in 1996, causing an additional 150,000 Hutus to flee to Tanzania, thus raising their numbers in that country to about 250,000 Geography Location: Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo Geographic coordinates: 3 30 S, 30 00 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 27,830 sq km land: 25,650 sq km water: 2,180 sq km AreaŃcomparative: slightly smaller than Maryland Land boundaries: total: 974 km border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 233 km, Rwanda 290 km, Tanzania 451 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,760 m); average annual temperature varies with altitude from 23 to 17 degrees centigrade but is generally moderate as the average altitude is about 1,700 m; average annual rainfall is about 150 cm; wet seasons from February to May and September to November, and dry seasons from June to August and December to January Terrain: hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains Elevation extremes: lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m highest point: Mount Heha 2,760 m Natural resources: nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum (not yet exploited), vanadium Land use: arable land: 44% permanent crops: 9% permanent pastures: 36% forests and woodland: 3% other: 8% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 140 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: flooding, landslides EnvironmentŃcurrent issues: soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion of agriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little forested land remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel); habitat loss threatens wildlife populations EnvironmentŃinternational agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban GeographyŃnote: landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed People Population: 5,537,387 (July 1998 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 47% (male 1,313,112; female 1,309,600) 15-64 years: 50% (male 1,331,336; female 1,417,228) 65 years and over: 3% (male 69,718; female 96,393) (July 1998 est.) Population growth rate: 3.51% (1998 est.) Birth rate: 41.61 births/1,000 population (1998 est.) Death rate: 17.38 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.) Net migration rate: 10.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female (1998 est.) Infant mortality rate: 101.19 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 45.56 years male: 43.79 years female: 47.38 years (1998 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.4 children born/woman (1998 est.) Nationality: noun: Burundian(s) adjective: Burundi Ethnic groups: Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%, Europeans 3,000, South Asians 2,000 Religions: Christian 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%), indigenous beliefs 32%, Muslim 1% Languages: Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili (along Lake Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 35.3% male: 49.3% female: 22.5% (1995 est.) Government Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Burundi conventional short form: Burundi local long form: Republika y'u Burundi local short form: Burundi Data code: BY Government type: republic National capital: Bujumbura Administrative divisions: 15 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi Independence: 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration) National holiday: Independence Day, 1 July (1962) Constitution: 13 March 1992; provides for establishment of a plural political system Legal system: based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult Executive branch: chief of state: President Pierre BUYOYA (interim president since 27 September 1996); noteŃformer President NTIBANTUNGANYA was overthrown in a coup on 25 July 1996 and took refuge for 11 months in the US ambassador's residence in Bujumbura; former Major (retired) Pierre BUYOYA has not been recognized as president of Burundi by the US or most other governments head of government: Prime Minister Pascal-Firmin NDIMIRA (since 31 July 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by prime minister elections: NA Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (81 seats; members are popularly elected on a proportional basis to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 29 June 1993 (scheduled to be held in 1998, although no date has been set) election results: percent of vote by partyŃFRODEBU 71%, UPRONA 21.4%; seats by party - FRODEBU 65, UPRONA 16; other parties won too small shares of the vote to win seats in the assembly Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme Political parties and leaders: Unity for National Progress or UPRONA [Charles MUKASI, president]; Burundi Democratic Front or FRODEBU [Jean MINANI, president]; Socialist Party of Burundi or PSB; People's Reconciliation Party or PRP [Mathias HITIMANA, leader]; opposition parties, legalized in March 1992, include Burundi African Alliance for the Salvation or ABASA; Rally for Democracy and Economic and Social Development or RADDES [Cyrille SIGEJEJE, chairman]; and Party for National Redress or PARENA [Jean-Baptiste BAGAZA, leader] International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Henri SIMBAKWTRA chancery: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 342-2574 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Morris N. HUGHES, Jr. (27 June l996) embassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura mailing address: B. P. 1720, Bujumbura telephone: [257] (2) 223454 FAX: [257] (2) 222926 Flag description: divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and bottom) and green panels (hoist side and outer side) with a white disk superimposed at the center bearing three red six-pointed stars outlined in green arranged in a triangular design (one star above, two stars below) Economy EconomyŃoverview: Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country in an early stage of economic development. The economy is predominately agricultural with roughly 90% of the population dependent on subsistence agriculture. Its economic health depends on the coffee crop, which accounts for 80% of foreign exchange earnings. The ability to pay for imports therefore rests largely on the vagaries of the climate and the international coffee market. As part of its economic reform agenda, launched in February 1991 with IMF and World Bank support, Burundi is trying to diversify its agricultural exports, attract foreign investment in industry, and modernize government budgetary practices. Since October 1993 the nation has suffered from massive ethnic-based violence which has resulted in the death of perhaps 100,000 persons and the displacement of a million others. Foods, medicines, and electricity remain in short supply. An impoverished and disorganized government can hardly implement the needed reform programs. GDP: purchasing power parityŃ$4 billion (1997 est.) GDPŃreal growth rate: 4.4% (1997 est.) GDPŃper capita: purchasing power parityŃ$660 (1997 est.) GDPŃcomposition by sector: agriculture: 56% industry: 18% services: 26% (1995 est.) Inflation rateŃconsumer price index: 26% (1996 est.) Labor force: total: 1.9 million by occupation: agriculture 93.0%, government 4.0%, industry and commerce 1.5%, services 1.5% (1983 est.) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $222 million expenditures: $258 million, including capital expenditures of $92 million (1995 est.) Industries: light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing Industrial production growth rate: NA% ElectricityŃcapacity: 43,000 kW (1995) ElectricityŃproduction: 158 million kWh (1995) note: imports some electricity from Democratic Republic of the Congo ElectricityŃconsumption per capita: 32 kWh (1995) AgricultureŃproducts: coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, manioc (tapioca); meat, milk, hides Exports: total value: $40 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: coffee 81%, tea, cotton, hides partners: EU 60%, US 7%, Asia 1% Imports: total value: $127 million (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: capital goods 26%, petroleum products, foodstuffs, consumer goods partners: EU 47%, Asia 25%, US 6% DebtŃexternal: $1.1 billion (1995 est.) Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA Currency: 1 Burundi franc (FBu) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Burundi francs (FBu) per US$1Ń412.59 (January 1998), 352.35 (1997), 302.75 (1996), 249.76 (1995), 252.66 (1994), 242.78 (1993) Fiscal year: calendar year Communications Telephones: 7,200 (1987 est.) Telephone system: primitive system domestic: sparse system of open wire, radiotelephone communications, and low-capacity microwave radio relay international: satellite earth stationŃ1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0 Radios: NA Television broadcast stations: 1 Televisions: 4,500 (1993 est.) Transportation Railways: 0 km Highways: total: 14,480 km paved: 1,028 km unpaved: 13,452 km (1995 est.) Waterways: Lake Tanganyika Ports and harbors: Bujumbura Airports: 4 (1997 est.) AirportsŃwith paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.) AirportsŃwith unpaved runways: total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.) Military Military branches: Army (includes naval and air units), paramilitary Gendarmerie Military manpowerŃmilitary age: 16 years of age Military manpowerŃavailability: males age 15-49: 1,203,518 (1998 est.) Military manpowerŃfit for military service: males: 627,587 (1998 est.) Military manpowerŃreaching military age annually: males: 69,030 (1998 est.) Military expendituresŃdollar figure: $25 million (1993) Military expendituresŃpercent of GDP: 2.6% (1993) Transnational Issues DisputesŃinternational: none