The National Defence Force is the state military organisation responsible for the defence of Burundi.
Burundi is one of the few countries in Africa, along with its closely linked neighbour Rwanda among others, to be a direct territorial continuation of a pre-colonial era African state.
Bujumbura, formerly Usumbura, is the former capital, largest city and main port of Burundi. It ships most of the country's chief export, coffee, as well as cotton and tin ore. It is on the north-eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, the second deepest lake in the world after Lake Baikal.
The Hutu, also known as the Abahutu, are a Bantu ethnic or social group native to the African Great Lakes region of Africa, an area now primarily in Burundi and Rwanda. They mainly live in Rwanda, Burundi, and the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where they form one of the principal population divisions alongside the Tutsi and the Twa.
The Tutsi, or Abatutsi, are a social class or ethnic group of the African Great Lakes region. Historically, they were often referred to as the Watutsi, Watusi, Wahuma, Wahima or the Wahinda. The Tutsi form a subgroup of the Banyarwanda and the Barundi people, who reside primarily in Rwanda and Burundi, but with significant populations also found in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania.
Crown Prince Louis Rwagasore was a Burundian Royal and politician who is considered a significant figure in the history of Burundi nationalism. He served as prime minister and was assassinated shortly before Burundian independence.
Ntare V of Burundi was the last king of Burundi from July to November 1966. Until his accession, he was known as Crown Prince Charles Ndizeye. After a Hutu-led coup attempt in October 1965, his father, Mwambutsa IV went into exile in Switzerland. In March 1966 Mwambusta IV designated his only surviving son as heir to the throne. The Crown Prince then formally deposed his father and his father's government in July 1966. King Ntare himself was deposed, later the same year, in a military coup led by Michel Micombero; the former king went into exile in West Germany and later Uganda.
Mwambutsa IV Bangiricenge was king (mwami) of Burundi who ruled between 1915 and 1966. He succeeded to the throne on the death of his father Mutaga IV Mbikije. Born while Burundi was under German colonial rule, Mwambutsa's reign mostly coincided with Belgian colonial rule (1916–62). The Belgians retained the monarchs of both Rwanda and Burundi under the policy of indirect rule.
Mwami Mwezi IV Gisabo Bikata-Bijoga (1840–1908) was the king of Burundi from 1852 to 1908. He was the son of king Ntare IV Rutaganzwa Rugamba. During his reign, Burundi was colonized by Germany. An agreement in 1890 allowed Mwezi to stay as king but recognize German authority. Mwezi also had to face rebellions from two chiefs named Maconco and Birori, who were recognized by the Germans in 1903. This recognition was withdrawn in 1905, however, and the rebellions were extinguished by 1906.
Ntare I Kivimira Savuyimba Semunganzashamba Rushatsi Cambarantama was the king of Burundi from 1680 to 1709. He was a legendary descendant of the Ntwero family, and was probably the first king of Burundi.
Gitega is the capital and one of the largest cities in Burundi. Located in the centre of the country, in the Burundian central plateau roughly 62 kilometres (39 mi) east by south of Bujumbura, Gitega was the seat of the Kingdom of Burundi until its abolition in 1966. In late December 2018, Burundian president Pierre Nkurunziza announced that he would follow on a 2007 promise to return Gitega its former political capital status, with Bujumbura remaining as economical capital and centre of commerce. A vote in the Parliament of Burundi made the change official on 16 January 2019, with all branches of government expected to move in over three years.
Princess Esther Kamatari is a writer, model, and exiled Burundian princess.
Pierre Nkurunziza is a Burundian politician who has been President of Burundi since 2005. He was the Chairman of the National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD), the ruling party, until he was elected as President of Burundi.
Gitega is one of the 18 provinces of Burundi. Its capital is Gitega, which is also the national capital. It has a population of 725,223 as of 2008 and an area of 1,979 square kilometres (764 sq mi).
Since Burundi's independence in 1962, there have been two events called genocides in the country. The 1972 mass killings of Hutus by the Tutsi-dominated army, and the 1993 mass killings of Tutsis by the majority-Hutu populace are both described as genocide in the final report of the International Commission of Inquiry for Burundi presented to the United Nations Security Council in 1996.
Religion in Burundi is diverse, with varying estimates. According to a 2008 estimate in CIA Factbook, about 86 percent of the population of Burundi is Christian, 7.9% follow traditional religions, and 2.5 percent is Muslim. In contrast, another estimate in the Encyclopedia of Africa states 67 percent of the Burundi people are Christians, 23% follow traditional religions, and 10% are Muslims.
Diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Burundi were established on December 21, 1963 under Chairman Mao Zedong and King Mwambutsa IV Bangiriceng, respectively. King Mwambutsa broke off diplomatic relations with China in 1965, although they were restored under Michel Micombero the first President of Burundi, on October 31, 1971. Since then, China has provided development aid to Burundi, including helping with the construction of a textiles mill in Bujumbura. As of 2002, China exported $2.718 worth of goods, while importing only $491,000 worth of goods from Burundi. The current Chinese ambassador to Burundi is Feng Zhijun.
On 8 July 1966, a coup d'état took place in the Kingdom of Burundi. The second in Burundi's post-independence history, the coup ousted the government loyal to the king (mwami) of Burundi, King Mwambutsa IV, who had gone into exile in October 1965 after the failure of an earlier coup d'état.
