World Country Guide

General Information

Area
27,834 sq km (10,747 sq miles).

Population
6,602,000 (2002).

Population Density
237.2 per sq km (2002).

Capital
Bujumbura. Population: 235,440 (1990).

Geography
Burundi is a land-locked country in the heart of Africa, a little south of the equator, on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika. It is bordered by Rwanda to the north, by the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west and by Tanzania to the south and east. The interior is a broken plateau sloping east to Tanzania and the valley of the River Malagarasi. The southern tributary of the Nile system rises in the south of the country. The landscape is characterised by hills and valleys covered with eucalyptus trees, banana groves, cultivated fields and pasture. In the east, the fertile area gives way to savannah grassland, and tea and coffee are now grown on mountainsides.

Government
Republic. Gained independence from Belgium in 1966. Head of State and Government: President Domitien Ndayizeye since 2003. A transitional government currently presides over Burundi: Burundi is in a state of civil war.

Language
The official languages are French and Kirundi, a Bantu language. Swahili and English are also spoken.

Religion
More than 65 per cent of the population are Christian, the majority of which are Roman Catholic; there are Anglican and Pentecostalist minorities. 40 per cent adhere to animist beliefs. There is also a small (1 per cent) Muslim community.

Time
GMT + 2.

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Communications

Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 257. Outgoing international code: 00. Outgoing international calls must be made through the international operator (16).

Mobile telephone
GSM 900 networks are operated by Telcel Burundi (website: www.telecel.com), SAFARIS and Spacetel. Coverage is mainly over the west of the country.

Internet
ISPs include the Government-run CBI Net. New Internet providers are currently being set up in Bujumbura. There are a few Internet cafes in Bujumbura.

Telegram
Facilities are available from Direction des Tlcommunications in Bujumbura.

Post
The main post office in Bujumbura is open Mon-Fri 0730-1200 and 1400-1730, Sat 0830-1200.

Press
No English-language newspapers are published. Most publications are in French (such as Le Renouveau du Burundi) or local languages (such as Ubumwe in Kirundi). The two main newspapers are government-controlled.

Radio
BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.