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Burundi

Facts and stats about Burundi

jaacosta47

Author: jaacosta47

The Republic of Burundi is a landlocked country located in the Southeast African region called African Great Lakes. It is surrounded by Rwanda in the North, Democratic Republic of Congo in the West and Tanzania in the East and South. Burundi’s external relations have frequently been affected by security issues. Refugees from the country have fled to the Congo, Rwanda and Tanzania several times in the past. The country is wracked by civil war and rebel forces have used neighbouring counties as base for their revolutionary activities and attacks against the government.

The ban on Burundi imposed by regional states more than two decades ago strained diplomatic relations with other countries but these have improved since 1999 when the sanctions were suspended. Burundi is a member of the United Nations, African Union and African Development Bank. Burundi’s internal troubles have escalated after incumbent President Pierre Nkurunziza insisted to run for a third term. He has been President of Burundi since 2005. The constitution allows only a maximum of two terms so he is pressuring parliament to amend this. However, the ruling party (National Council for the Defence of Democracy) has failed to convince even one lawmaker from another party to support this amendment. President Nkurunziza is planning to stage a referendum on the matter. The elections in 2010 were rejected by opposition groups because of fraud claims.

At present, the economy is very unstable especially now that coffee production has dropped. The intervention of foreign donors like the World Bank, Belgium and the United States which supply more than half of the country’s budget came in to help the government avoid bankruptcy. Crackdown on insurgency and the President’s economic negligence turned Burundi into a combination of an ill-starred economy and tyranny.

10.89 million

Population. Ranked 78th in 2013.

$250.97

GDP per capita. Ranked 177th in 2012.

Borders

Democratic Republic of the Congo 233 km, Rwanda 290 km, Tanzania 451 km
Largest city Bujumbura - 300,000
Capital city Bujumbura - 300,000
Major language Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili
Major religion Christianity, indigenous beliefs
Monetary unit Burundi franc
Alternative names Republic of Burundi, Republika y'u Burundi, Burundi
Groups Group object, Group object, Group object, Group object, Group object, Group object, Group object

Interesting observations about Burundi

  • Burundi ranked second for total fertility rate amongst Christian countries in 2013.
  • Burundi ranked first for birth rate amongst Catholic countries in 2013.
  • Burundi ranked first for population growth rate amongst Densely populated countries in 2013.
  • Burundi ranked first for percentage living in rural areas. amongst Sub-Saharan Africa in 2003.
  • Burundi has had the highest employment rate > women since 1994.
  • Burundi ranked first for land use > permanent crops amongst Landlocked countries in 2013.
  • Burundi ranked first for employment rate > adults globally in 2008.
  • Burundi has ranked last for urban population per 1000 since 1993.
  • Burundi has ranked last for urban population > per capita since 1993.
  • Burundi has ranked last for trade > imports per capita since 2003.

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The Republic of Burundi is a landlocked country located in the Southeast African region called African Great Lakes. It is surrounded by Rwanda in the North, Democratic Republic of Congo in the West and Tanzania in the East and South. Burundi’s external relations have frequently been affected by security issues. Refugees from the country have fled to the Congo, Rwanda and Tanzania several times in the past. The country is wracked by civil war and rebel forces have used neighbouring counties as base for their revolutionary activities and attacks against the government.

The ban on Burundi imposed by regional states more than two decades ago strained diplomatic relations with other countries but these have improved since 1999 when the sanctions were suspended. Burundi is a member of the United Nations, African Union and African Development Bank. Burundi’s internal troubles have escalated after incumbent President Pierre Nkurunziza insisted to run for a third term. He has been President of Burundi since 2005. The constitution allows only a maximum of two terms so he is pressuring parliament to amend this. However, the ruling party (National Council for the Defence of Democracy) has failed to convince even one lawmaker from another party to support this amendment. President Nkurunziza is planning to stage a referendum on the matter. The elections in 2010 were rejected by opposition groups because of fraud claims.

At present, the economy is very unstable especially now that coffee production has dropped. The intervention of foreign donors like the World Bank, Belgium and the United States which supply more than half of the country’s budget came in to help the government avoid bankruptcy. Crackdown on insurgency and the President’s economic negligence turned Burundi into a combination of an ill-starred economy and tyranny.

Posted on 28 Mar 2014

jaacosta47

jaacosta47

423 Stat enthusiast

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