Government and Politics of Burundi

Government Type

republic

Administrative Divisions

16 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi

Legal System

based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

NA years of age; universal adult

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

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (since 18 June 2020); note - NDAYISHIMIYE won the May 2020 presidential election following the death of longtime President Pierre NKURUNZIZA, who died on 8 June 2020 before the official transfer of power head of government: President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (since 18 June 2020); First Vice President Prosper BAZOMBANZA (since 24 June 2020); Second Vice President Joseph BUTORE (since 24 June 2020) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: the president is elected by popular vote to a seven-year term, renewable once; vice presidents nominated by the president and endorsed by parliament; the 2018 revised constitution extended the presidential term from five to seven years and reset term limits, allowing the incumbent to serve two additional terms under the new rules election results: Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE was elected president in the May 20, 2020 election with approximately 68% of the vote, defeating his closest rival Agathon RWASA of the CNL party, who received approximately 24% of the vote

Legislative Branch

Burundi's bicameral Parliament (Parlement) consists of a National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) and a Senate. The National Assembly has a minimum of 100 seats, with representation quotas mandating 60% Hutu and 40% Tutsi membership, and at least 30% of seats reserved for women. Additional seats may be appointed by the National Independent Electoral Commission to ensure ethnic balance, including representation for the Twa minority. Members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms. The Senate consists of 43 seats, with 36 members chosen by indirect vote through electoral colleges in each province, serving five-year terms. Additional seats are reserved for former heads of state and appointed members representing ethnic minorities, including the Twa community. Elections: National Assembly — last held on 20 May 2020; Senate — last held on 20 July 2020. Election results: National Assembly — percent of vote by party: CNDD-FDD 71.9%, CNL 23.3%, UPRONA 2.5%, others 2.3%; seats by party — CNDD-FDD 86, CNL 32, UPRONA 2, other/appointed 5. Senate — seats by party: CNDD-FDD 34, CNL 2, UPRONA 0, with remaining seats assigned to ethnic group representatives and former heads of state.

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court; Courts of Appeal (there are three in separate locations); Tribunals of First Instance (17 at the province level and 123 small local tribunals)

Political Parties

the three national, mainstream, governing parties are: Burundi Democratic Front or FRODEBU [Leonce NGENDAKUMANA, president]; National Council for the Defense of Democracy, Front for the Defense of Democracy or CNDD-FDD [Hussein RADJABU, president]; Unity for National Progress or UPRONA [Aloys RUBUKA, president] note: a multiparty system was introduced after 1998, included are: National Council for the Defense of Democracy or CNDD [leader NA]; National Resistance Movement for the Rehabilitation of the Citizen or MRC-Rurenzangemero [Epitace BANYAGANAKANDI]; Party for National Redress or PARENA [Jean-Baptiste BAGAZA]

Head of State

President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE

Head of Government

President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE

Cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by president

Elections

National Assembly — last held on 20 May 2020; Senate — last held on 20 July 2020.

Election Results

National Assembly — percent of vote by party: CNDD-FDD 71.9%, CNL 23.3%, UPRONA 2.5%, others 2.3%; seats by party — CNDD-FDD 86, CNL 32, UPRONA 2, other/appointed 5. Senate — seats by party: CNDD-FDD 34, CNL 2, UPRONA 0, with remaining seats assigned to ethnic group representatives and former heads of state. These figures reflect the results of the May 2020 legislative elections, held alongside the presidential election that brought Évariste Ndayishimiye to power. International observers noted significant irregularities during the electoral process, and the CNL, led by Agathon Rwasa, disputed the results, claiming the vote did not accurately reflect the will of the electorate.

Constitution

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

Independence

1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

International Organization Participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Antoine NTAMOBWA chancery: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 342-2574 FAX: [1] (202) 342-2578

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia Newton MOLLER embassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura mailing address: B. P. 1720, Bujumbura telephone: [257] 223454 FAX: [257] 222926

Capital City

Gitega (political capital), Bujumbura (commercial capital); note - in January 2019, the Burundian parliament voted to make Gitega the political capital of the country while Bujumbura would remain its economic capital; as of 2023, the government's move to Gitega remains incomplete

Location

3 25 S, 29 55 E

Time Difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

the naming origins for both Gitega and Bujumbura are obscure; Bujumbura's name prior to independence in 1962 was Usumbura

U.S. Embassy Bujumbura Avenue des Etats-Unis Telephone: 257 22 20 7000 Emergency after-hours telephone: 257 79 938 841 Facsimile: 257 22 24 3467

Military Branches

National Defense Forces (Forces de Defense Nationale, FDN): Army (includes maritime wing, Air Wing), National Gendarmerie

Service Age and Obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; the armed forces law of 31 December 2004 did not specify a minimum age for enlistment, but the government claimed that no one younger than 18 was being recruited; mandatory retirement age 45 (enlisted), 50 (NCOs), and 55 (officers)