Burundi’s facts

Burundi is a landlocked country in East Africa. The country has recently experienced a number of ethnic wars, which has left many unaccompanied children, orphans and widows with minors in hardship. According to various humanitarian agencies and United Nations International Commission of Inquiry for Burundi, children, orphans and widows with minors are most vulnerable people .

The research also shows that Burundian minors are exposed to worst forms of abuse such as forced labor, debt bonding, sexual exploitation and other social degradation.

Due to the different rebel groups in the region, some children are also exposed on illicit activities including organized burglary, drug abuse and other social . While Burundi government and humanitarian organizations are always trying to help its people, there are still enormous challenges, and many unaccompanied children, widows with minors and orphans are still facing many social challenges, and many more face psychological and wellbeing problems that impede them to continue their education.



Burundi Political Profile from 1962

Political System: Emerging Democracy

President: Pierre Nkurunziza (CNDD-FDD) [since 26 August 2005; elected 2005, re-elected 2010] The President is elected by direct popular vote for a 5-year term.

Parliament: [bicameral].

Senate : (49 Seats) 34 members (2 from each province) are indirectly elected by communal councilors, 3 members are from the ethnic Twa minority, 4 former presidents, and 8 co-opted members appointed to ensure that gender (at least 30% women) quotas are met; members serve 5-year terms.

National Assembly:  (106 Seats) 100 members are elected by direct popular vote in multi-member constituencies using the party-list proportional representation system, 6 members are co-opted to ensure that constitutionally mandated ethnic (60% Hutu-40% Tutsi, and 3 Twa) and gender (at least 30% women) quotas are met; members serve 5-year terms.

Electoral Authority: National Independent Electoral Commission.

Political Situation since Independence

1962-1966 : Emerging Democracy
1966-1974 :  Military Regime & One Party State (UPRONA)
1974-1976 : One Party State (UPRONA)
1976-1979 : Military Regime
1979-1987 : One Party State (UPRONA)
1987-1992 : Military Regime & One Party State (UPRONA)
1992-1993 : Multiparty Transition
1993  :       Democracy ( but the 1st democratic elected president was killed in two months after his inauguration)
1993-1996 : Restricted Democratic Practice
1996  :       Military Regime
1996-2001 : Restricted Democratic Practice
2001-2005:  Transitional Government
2005-2010:  Democracy
2010-  2013    Emerging Democracy

2012 November - Murundi People's Front Abatabazi becomes sixth rebel group to launch attacks on government forces from across the DRCongolese border since the disputed presidential election, adding to fears of a return to civil war.

2013 June - President Nkurunziza approves new media law which critics condemn as an attack on press freedom. Law forbids reporting on matters that could undermine national security, public order or the economy.

2013 August - The leader of the former rebel FML, Agathon Rwasa, resurfaces after three years in hiding and says he will stand in the 2015 presidential election.

2014 January - Burundi deploys a battalion of troops to Central African Republic, as part of an international effort to prevent a descent into civil war there.

2014 March - Several opposition supporters are jailed for life for attending an illegal demonstration.
Parliament blocks a government attempt to introduce changes to the constitution which would have threatened the balance of power between the country's main ethnic groups.

2014 April - Burundi orders a senior UN official to leave the country after a UN report warns that the government is arming its young supporters ahead of next year's elections, a claim which the government denies.

2014 June - Burundi gets into trouble again for the presidential third term - coup d'etta attempted (failed) and  violence 

2014 July - Parliament passes a bill to curb the proliferation of churches in the country. A survey last year found there were 557 denominations practising in Burundi.

2014 October - Burundian opposition leader Leonce Ngendakumana sentenced to a year in prison for slander, in what he describes as a political trial ahead of next year's election.