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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
Capital: Bujumbura
Administrative divisions: 15
provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega,
Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Ngozi, Rutana,
Ruyigi
note: there may be a new province named Mwaro
Independence: 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Constitution: 13 March 1992; provided for establishment of a plural political system; supplanted on 6 June 1998 by a Transitional Constitution which enlarged the National Assembly and created two vice presidents
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 and officially sworn in on 11 June 1998) is
chief of state and head of government and is assisted by First
Vice President Frederic BAMVUGINYUMVIRA (since NA) and Second
Vice President Mathias SINAMENYA (since NA); note—former
President NTIBANTUNGANYA was overthrown in a coup on 25 July 1996
head of government: President Pierre BUYOYA is both chief of state
and head of government; assisted by First Vice President Frederic
BAMVUGINYUMVIRA (since NA) and Second Vice President Mathias SINAMENYA
(since NA)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president
elections: NA
Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (81 seats; note—new
Transitional Constitution calls for 121 seats; members are elected
by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 29 June 1993 (next was scheduled to be held
in 1998, but suspended by presidential decree in 1996)
election results: percent of vote by party—FRODEBU 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 [Luc RUKINGAMA, president];
Burundi Democratic Front or FRODEBU [Jean MINANI, president];
Socialist Party of Burundi or PSB [leader NA]; People's Reconciliation
Party or PRP [leader NA]
note: 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]
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, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in
the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas NDIKUMANA
chancery: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20007
telephone: [1] (202) 342-2574
FAX: [1] (202) 342-2578
Diplomatic representation from
the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Morris N. HUGHES, Jr.
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)