Happy Independence Day Burundi

“A rich man who does not know himself is worth less than a poor man who does” - Burundian Proverb

(Burundi flag (1967-Present))

Burundi is located in central Africa.

(Map of where Burundi is located)

Its capital is Bujumbura. Bujumbura is also its largest city. The official languages are French and Kirundi. The country is 10,747 square miles. Burundi is 100% African. 90% of Burundi practices Christianity, 5% practice Islam and 5% practice traditional African religions. The total population is 11,178,921. The climate is tropical. Burundi is a presidential republic.

(Bujumbura, capital of Burundi)

Burundi cuisine consists of sweet potatoes, corn, and peas.

(Burundi cuisine)

The major style of music in Burundi consists of traditional drumming using the karyenda, amashako, ibishikiso, and ikiranya drums.

(Burundians performing)

Burundi’s most popular sport is soccer.

(Burundi’s national soccer team)

Burundi was 1st inhabited in the 5th century BC.

(Burundian ancient tablets)

In 1680 the Kingdom of Burundi was formed.

(Women of the Kingdom of Burundi)

In the late 1800s Germany established armed forces in Burundi.

(A drawing of Germans capturing a Burundian man)

They colonized the area and named it “German East Africa”.

(German East Africa flag (1891-1919))

After WWI Germany was forced to give German East Africa to Belgium. Its name was changed to “Ruanda-Urundi”.

(Ruanda-Urundi flag (1922-1962))

In 1948 Belgium allowed the region to form political parties. In 1959 Burundi's ruler Mwami Mwambutsa IV requested Burundi's independence from Belgium.

(Mwami Mwambutsa IV)

Burundi's push for independence was influenced by the Rwandan Revolution and the accompanying instability and ethnic conflict that occurred there. In 1961 the 1st elections occurred. Prince Louis Rwagasore won the election.

(Prince Louis Rwagasore)

He was assassinated a month later. On July 1st, 1962 Burundi gained its independence.

(Burundi flag (1962-1966))

Mwami Mwambutsa IV became the king of the country. In 1963 Pierre Ngendandumwe was appointed prime minister.

(Pierre Ngendandumwe)

In 1965 an attempted coup d'état led by the Hutu dominated police was carried out but failed. In 1966 King Mwambutsa was outed by a coup. The country became a military dictatorship. In 1972 began the 1st Burundian genocide. About 1200 Tutsi people were killed by Hutu members of the gendarmerie. The government then committed genocide against Hutu rebels. 210,000 people were killed.

(Victims of the genocide)

In 1976 Colonel Jean-Baptiste Bagaza led a bloodless coup.

(Jean-Baptiste Bagaza)

In 1981 he drafted a new constitution. In 1984 Bagaza was elected head of state. Major Pierre Buyoya overthrew Bagaza in 1987 and suspended the constitution, dissolving the political parties.

(Pierre Buyoya)

He reinstated military rule under the Military Committee for National Salvation (CSMN). In 1988 ethnic propaganda led to killings of Tutsi peasants in the northern communes of Ntega and Marangara. 5,000 people were killed.

(Victims of the violence)

In 1992 the government promulgated a new constitution that provided for a multi party system. The same year civil war broke out. In 1993 mass killings of Tutsis by the Hutu majority began.

(Victims of the 1993 genocide)

Also in 1993 Melchior Ndadaye won the 1st democratic election. He was later assassinated the same year. In 1994 Cyprien Ntaryamira was elected president.

(Cyprien Ntaryamira)

He and the president of Rwanda died together when their airplane was shot down.

(Wreckage from the plane)

Sylvestre Ntibantunganya was appointed president. In 1996 Pierre Buyoya took power through a coup d’état. In 1998 he was sworn in as president. In response to rebel attacks, the government forced much of the population to relocate to refugee camps.

(Refugee camps)

In 2000 a transitional government for Burundi was planned as a part of the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement. In 2003 a ceasefire was signed between the Tutsi controlled Burundian government and the largest Hutu rebel group, CNDD-FDD (National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy). In 2005 Pierre Nkurunziza was elected president.

(Pierre Nkurunziza)

Also in 2005 fighting stopped. In 2006 reconstruction efforts in Burundi started to practically take effect. In 2007 Burundi joined the East African Community. In 2008 FLN combatants attacked government protected camps where former combatants were living. The homes of rural residents were also pillaged. As of 2011 Burundi has one of the lowest per capita gross incomes in the world. In 2015 protests broke out after the ruling party announced President Pierre Nkurunziza would seek a third term in office. An attempted coup d'état failed to depose Nkurunziza. Elections were held but were boycotted by the opposition parties.

(Protests against Burundi president Nkurunziza)

Today marks the 55th anniversary of Burundi’s independence and we would like to say happy independence day Burundi.

Videos of Burundi Independence

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWfm-tzzwaU  “Rwanda Burundi 1962”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWbsYsHhmHw  “Burundi celebrates 54th Independence anniversary amid political tension”