Burundi

Burundi is a landlocked country in East Africa, part of the African Great Lakes region. It covers about 27,800 square kilometers and has a population of around 12.8 million. The political capital is Gitega, established in 2019, while Bujumbura remains the largest city and economic center.

Burundi is bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Lake Tanganyika to the southwest. The terrain consists of highlands and rolling hills, with elevations from roughly 1,400 to 2,800 meters. The climate is temperate to subtropical, with two rainy seasons in many areas.

Independence was achieved from Belgium in 1962 after a long period under colonial rule. The country has undergone cycles of ethnic tension between Hutu and Tutsi communities and two civil wars, culminating in a 2000s peace process and the Arusha Accords. In 2015, political violence followed President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for a third term. Democratic elections were held in 2020, and Évariste Ndayishimiye of the CNDD-FDD became president.

Burundi is a unitary semi-presidential republic with a multi-party system. The economy is small and predominantly agrarian, relying on coffee and tea exports, plus subsistence farming. Development challenges include poverty, infrastructure gaps, and vulnerability to climate shocks. Economic growth is modest and aid remains important.

The population is mainly Hutu with a Tutsi minority and a small Twa group. Official languages are Kirundi and French; English is also used in education and business in some contexts. Swahili is spoken near borders. The main religion is Christianity, with Roman Catholicism and Protestant churches prominent, and traditional beliefs still observed in some communities.