Burundi: Government#
Country name | conventional long form: Republic of Burundi conventional short form: Burundi local long form: Republique du Burundi/Republika y'u Burundi local short form: Burundi former: Urundi etymology: name derived from the pre-colonial Kingdom of Burundi (17th-19th century) |
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Government type | presidential republic |
Capital | Bujumbura
Bujumbura
geographic coordinates: 3 22 S, 29 21 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) |
Administrative divisions | 18 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura Mairie, Bujumbura Rural, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro, Ngozi, Rumonge, Rutana, Ruyigi |
Independence | 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration) |
National holiday | Independence Day, 1 July (1962) |
Constitution | several previous; latest ratified by popular referendum 28 February 2005 (2016) |
Legal system | mixed legal system of Belgian civil law and customary law |
International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
Citizenship | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Burundi dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years |
Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal |
Executive branch | chief of state: President Pierre NKURUNZIZA (since 26 August 2005); First Vice President Gaston SINDIMWO (since 20 August 2015); Second Vice President Joseph BUTORE (since 20 August 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Pierre NKURUNZIZA (since 26 August 2005); First Vice President Prosper BAZOMBAZA (since 13 February 2014); Second Vice President Gervais RUFYIKIRI (since 29 August 2010) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 July 2015(next to be held in 2020); vice presidents nominated by the president, endorsed by Parliament election results: Pierre NKURUNZIZA reelected president; percent of vote - Pierre NKURUNZIZA (CNDD-FDD) 69.4%, Agathon RWASA (National Liberation Forces) 19%, other 11.6% |
Legislative branch | description: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Inama Nkenguzamateka (49 seats in the July 2015 election; 34 members indirectly elected by an electoral college of provincial councils using a three-round voting system which requires a two-thirds majority vote in the first two rounds and a simple majority vote for the two leading candidates in the final round; 4 seats reserved for former heads of state, 3 seats reserved for Twas, and 8 seats for women; members serve 5-year terms) and the National Assembly or Inama Nshingamateka (121 seats in the June 2015 election; 100 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 21 co-opted members – 3 Twas and 18 women; members serve 5-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 24 July 2015 (next to be held in 2019); National Assembly - last held on 29 June 2015 (next to be held on 2020) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 30, FRODEBU 3, CNDD 1, and 4 seats reserved for heads of state, 3 seats for Twas, and 8 seats for women; National Assembly - percent of vote by party (preliminary results) - CNDD-FDD 60.3%, Burundians' Hope Independent 11.2% UPRONA 2.5%, other 26%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 77, Burundians' Hope Independent 21, UPRONA 2, seats for women 18, seats for Twas 3 |
Judicial branch | highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 9 judges and organized into judicial, administrative, and cassation chambers); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 members) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the Judicial Service Commission, a 15-member independent body of judicial and legal profession officials), appointed by the president, and confirmed by the Senate; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate and serve 6-year nonrenewable terms subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; County Courts; Courts of Residence; Martial Court; Court Against Corruption; Commercial Court |
Political parties and leaders | Front for Democracy in Burundi or FRODEBU National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Front for the Defense of Democracy or CNDD-FDD (Pascal NYABENDA) National Liberation Forces or FNL (Agathon RWASA) National Council for the Defense of Democracy or CNDD (Leonard NYANGOMA) National Resistance Movement for the Rehabilitation of the Citizen or MRC-Rurenzangemero (Epitace BANYAGANAKANDI) Party for National Redress or PARENA (Zenon NIMU BONA) Union for National Progress (Union pour le Progress Nationale) or UPRONA |
Political pressure groups and leaders | Forum for the Strengthening of Civil Society or FORSC (Pacifique NININAHAZWE) (civil society umbrella organization)other: Hutu and Tutsi militias |
International organization participation | ACP, AfDB, AU, CEMAC, CEPGL, CICA, COMESA, EAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
Diplomatic representation in the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Ernest NDABASHINZE (since 21 May 2014) chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 408, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (1) (202) 342-2574 FAX: (1) (202) 342-2578 |
Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Anne S. CASPER (since 2016) embassy: Avenue Des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura mailing address: B.P. 1720, Bujumbura telephone: (257) 22-207-000 FAX: (257) 22-222-926 |
Flag description | divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and bottom) and green panels (hoist side and fly 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); green symbolizes hope and optimism, white purity and peace, and red the blood shed in the struggle for independence; the three stars in the disk represent the three major ethnic groups: Hutu, Twa, Tutsi, as well as the three elements in the national motto: unity, work, progress |
National symbol(s) | lion; national colors: red, white, green |
National anthem | name: "Burundi Bwacu" (Our Beloved Burundi) lyrics/music: Jean-Baptiste NTAHOKAJA/Marc BARENGAYABO note: adopted 1962 |