1 GeoFroggy

Background

Burundi's first democratically elected president was assassinated in October 1993 after only 100 days in office, triggering widespread ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi factions. More than 200,000 Burundians perished during the conflict that spanned almost a dozen years. Hundreds of thousands of Burundians were internally displaced or became refugees in neighboring countries. An internationally brokered power-sharing agreement between the Tutsi-dominated government and the Hutu rebels in 2003 paved the way for a transition process that led to an integrated defense force, established a new constitution in 2005, and elected a majority Hutu government in 2005. The new government, led by President Pierre NKURUNZIZA, signed a South African brokered ceasefire with the country's last rebel group in September of 2006 but still faces many challenges.

Location

Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Area Comparative

Slightly smaller than Maryland

Maritime Claims

none (landlocked)

Climate
Equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,670 m above sea level); 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; two wet seasons (February to May and September to November), and two dry seasons (June to August and December to January)

Natural Hazards

Flooding; landslides; drought

Environment Current 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

Environment International Agreements

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

Signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography Note

Landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed; the Kagera, which drains into Lake Victoria, is the most remote headstream of the White Nile
Year

Map Reference

  • Africa

Irrigated Land 2003

  • 210 sq km

Area 2010

  • Total
    27,830 sq km
  • Land
    25,680 sq km
  • Water
    2,150 sq km

Coastline

  • 0 km

Geographical Coordinates

  • 3 30 S, 30 00 E

Land use 2010

  • Arable Land
    35.57%
  • Permanent Crops
    13.12%
  • Other
    51.31%

Terrain

  • Hilly and mountainous
  • Dropping to a plateau in east
  • Some plains

Elevation

  • Lowest Point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m
  • Highest Point: Heha 2,670 m

Land Boundaries

  • Total
    974 km
  • Democratic Republic Of The
    Congo km
  • Rwanda
    290 km
  • Tanzania
    451 km

Natural Resources

  • Nickel
  • Uranium
  • Rare earth oxides
  • Peat
  • Cobalt
  • Copper
  • Platinum
  • Vanadium
  • Arable land
  • Hydropower
  • Niobium
  • Tantalum
  • Gold
  • Tin
  • Tungsten
  • Kaolin
  • Limestone
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