conventional long form: Republic of Burundi
conventional short form: Burundi
local long form: Republika y'u Burundi
local short form: Burundi

BY

republic

Bujumbura

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

1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian
administration)

Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

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

based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary
law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

NA years of age; universal adult

chief of state: President Pierre BUYOYA (interim president since 27
September 1996, officially sworn in 11 June 1998), First Vice
President Frederic BAMVUGINYUMVIRA (since NA May 1998), Second Vice
President Mathias SINAMENYA (since NA May 1998); note - the president
is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Pierre BUYOYA (interim president since
27 September 1996, officially sworn in 11 June 1998), First Vice
President Frederic BAMVUGINYUMVIRA (since NA May 1998), Second Vice
President Mathias SINAMENYA (since NA May 1998); note - the president
is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president
elections: NA; current president assumed power following a coup on 25
July 1996 in which former President NTIBANTUNGANYA was overthrown

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (121 seats; note - new Transitional Constitution expanded
the number of seats from 81 to 121 in 1998; 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 71.04%, UPRONA
21.4%, other 7.56%; seats by party - FRODEBU 65, UPRONA 16, various
other parties 40

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Unity for National Progress or UPRONA
; Burundi Democratic Front or FRODEBU [Jean
MINANI, president]
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]; Party for National Redress or PARENA
; Socialist Party of Burundi or PSB ;
People's Reconciliation Party or PRP

Loosely organized Tutsi
militias

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

chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas NDIKUMANA
chancery: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:  (202) 342-2574
FAX:  (202) 342-2578

chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Catlin YATES
embassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura
mailing address: B. P. 1720, Bujumbura
telephone:  (2) 223454
FAX:  (2) 222926

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)