Embassy of the United States, Bujumbura

Last updated

Embassy of the United States, Bujumbura
Seal of an Embassy of the United States of America.svg
Embassy of the United States, Bujumbura
Location Bujumbura, Burundi
AddressB.P. 1720 Avenue Des Etats-Unis Bujumbura, Burundi
Coordinates 3°21′54″S29°22′48″E / 3.36500°S 29.38000°E / -3.36500; 29.38000
Website https://bi.usembassy.gov

The Embassy of the United States in Bujumbura is the diplomatic mission of the United States of America in Burundi.

Contents

History

The United States recognized the Kingdom of Burundi on July 1, 1962, coinciding with the end of the United Nations Trusteeship over Ruanda-Urundi, which had been administered by Belgium. The U.S. established Embassy Usumbura, now Bujumbura, on the same day, with Herbert V. Olds serving as the Chargé d'Affaires ad interim. The mission was initially designated as a Legation on December 15, 1962, until its elevation to the status of an Embassy on September 16, 1963. [1]

Following Burundi's independence, the country experienced political assassinations, ethnic violence, and armed conflicts, leading to changes in governments through several coups. The 2000 Arusha Accords, among other ceasefire agreements, played a crucial role in ending the Burundian Civil War that lasted from 1993 to 2006. Political unrest was reignited in 2015 when President Pierre Nkurunziza decided to pursue a third presidential term. [2]

In 2011, the US sent a military aid package worth $45 million to Burundi and Uganda, which included four drone aircraft. [3]

Relations severely deteriorated in 2015 when Nkurunziza ran and won for a third term and Burundi faced sanctions by Barack Obama [4] and under the Donald Trump administration, threatens to close its embassy in Bujumbura. In 2023, diplomats from several countries, including the U.S., participated in a ceremony in Gitega, where President Évariste Ndayishimiye and Gigawatt Global CEO Yosef Abramowitz announced a doubling of capacity at the country's first utility-scale solar field. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Burundi</span>

The Politics of Burundi takes place in a framework of a transitional presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Burundi is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of parliament, the Senate and the National Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign relations of Burundi</span>

Burundi's relations with its neighbours have often been affected by security concerns. Hundreds of thousands of Burundian refugees have at various times crossed to neighboring Rwanda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Hundreds of thousands of Burundians are in neighboring countries as a result of the ongoing civil war. Most of them, more than 340,000 since 1993, are in Tanzania. Some Burundian rebel groups have used neighboring countries as bases for insurgent activities. The 1993 embargo placed on Burundi by regional states hurt diplomatic relations with its neighbors; relations have improved since the 1999 suspension of these sanctions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign relations of Tanzania</span>

Tanzania's first president, Julius Nyerere also was one of the founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement, and, during the Cold War era, Tanzania played an important role in regional and international organisations, such as the Non-Aligned Movement, the front-line states, the G-77, and the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). One of Africa's best-known elder statesmen, Nyerere was personally active in many of these organisations, and served chairman of the OAU (1984–85) and chairman of six front-line states concerned with eliminating apartheid in Southern Africa. Nyerere was also involved with peace negotiations in Burundi until his death. Nyerere's death, on 14 October 1999, is still commemorated annually.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Burundi</span> Aspect of history

Burundi originated in the 16th century as a small kingdom in the African Great Lakes region. After European contact, it was united with the Kingdom of Rwanda, becoming the colony of Ruanda-Urundi - first colonised by Germany and then by Belgium. The colony gained independence in 1962, and split once again into Rwanda and Burundi. It is one of the few countries in Africa to be a direct territorial continuation of a pre-colonial era African state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign relations of Uganda</span>

Uganda has formal diplomatic relations with many countries, some accredited. Since the colonial era and after independence Uganda has grown to be one of the most important African countries. Uganda has diplomatic relations with many countries throughout Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania. Uganda is a member of the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Nations since 1962.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pierre Nkurunziza</span> President of Burundi from 2005 to 2020

Pierre Nkurunziza was a Burundian politician who served as the ninth president of Burundi for almost 15 years from August 2005 until his death in June 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Burundi</span> Public university in Burundi

The University of Burundi is a public university located in Bujumbura, Burundi. Founded in 1964, it comprises eight faculties and five institutes and has a student enrollment of approximately 13,000. It is based in three campuses in Bujumbura and a fourth in Gitega. It took its current name in 1977 and is Burundi's only publicly funded university.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burundi–United States relations</span> Bilateral relations

In 1962, the United States established diplomatic relations with Burundi when it gained its independence from Belgium. Following independence, the country experienced political assassinations, ethnic violence, and cyclical periods of armed conflict; several governments were installed through coups. The 2000 Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement provided a negotiated settlement framework that, along with later ceasefire agreements, led to the end of the 1993-2006 civil war. President Pierre Nkurunziza's decision to seek a third presidential term in 2015 sparked protests in the capital and was followed by a failed coup d’état. The resultant violence and political and economic crises resulted in massive refugee flows to neighboring countries. The United States Embassy in Burundi's policy states: "The United States supports the achievement of long-term stability and prosperity in Burundi through broad, inclusive reconciliation; humanitarian assistance; economic growth; and the promotion of political openness and expansion of democratic freedoms. The United States supports the East African Community (EAC)-facilitated Burundian dialogue and other conflict resolution efforts within Burundi. The United States seeks to facilitate Burundi's deeper integration into regional and international markets, as a means to promote sustainable economic development."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burundi</span> Country in Central Africa

Burundi, officially the Republic of Burundi, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley at the junction between the African Great Lakes region and East Africa. It is bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and southeast, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west; Lake Tanganyika lies along its southwestern border. The capital cities are Gitega and Bujumbura, the latter being the country's largest city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Burundian presidential election</span>

Presidential elections were held in Burundi on 21 July 2015. President Pierre Nkurunziza ran for a third term despite controversy over whether he was eligible to run again. The opposition boycotted the vote, and Nkurunziza won re-election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burundian unrest (2015–2018)</span> Period of unrest in Burundi

On 25 April 2015, the ruling political party in Burundi, the National Council for the Defense of Democracy – Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD), announced that the incumbent President of Burundi, Pierre Nkurunziza, would run for a third term in the 2015 presidential election. The announcement sparked protests by those opposed to Nkurunziza seeking a third term in office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burundi–India relations</span> Bilateral relations

Burundi–India relations are the international relations that exist between Burundi and India. Apart from bilateral relations, India also engages with Burundi through the African Union and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Évariste Ndayishimiye</span> President of Burundi since 2020

General Évariste Ndayishimiye is a Burundian politician, who has served as President of Burundi since 18 June 2020. He became involved in the rebel National Council for the Defense of Democracy – Forces for the Defense of Democracy during the Burundian Civil War and rose up the ranks of its militia. At the end of the conflict, he entered the Burundian Army and held a number of political offices under the auspices of President Pierre Nkurunziza. Nkurunziza endorsed Ndayishimiye as his successor ahead of the 2020 elections which he won with a large majority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alain-Guillaume Bunyoni</span> Burundian politician

Alain-Guillaume Bunyoni is a Burundian politician who was Prime Minister of Burundi from 23 June 2020 to 7 September 2022. Before that, from 2015 until 2020, he served as Minister of Internal Security in the Cabinet of Burundi.

Gervais Ndirakobuca is a Burundian politician, former police officer and rebel commander serving as the Prime Minister of Burundi since 7 September 2022. Prior to that, he was the Minister of Interior, Public Security, and Community Development. He is known for his violent crackdown of the 2015 civil protest in Burundi and was under United States and European Union sanctions for human rights violations when President Évariste Ndayishimiye appointed him security minister.

References

  1. "A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country, since 1776: Burundi". history.state.gov. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  2. "U.S. Embassy Bujumbura, Burundi". diplomacy.state.gov. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  3. Bruno de Paiva (July 6, 2011). "Uganda and Burundi to Fight Islamists with US Drones". Future Directions International. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014.
  4. "How the West Lost Burundi". August 28, 2015.
  5. "Burundi's solar capacity to double, announces President Ndayishimiye at ribbon cutting for first solar field". finance.yahoo.com. Yahoo Finance. May 10, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.