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Burundi Government

What is the capital of Burundi?

Country Name Burundi
Full Country Name Republic of Burundi
Local - Long Republique du Burundi/Republika y'u Burundi
Local - Short Burundi
Former Name Urundi
Etymology- history of name The name derived from the pre-colonial Kingdom of Burundi (17th-19th century)
Government Type Presidential republic
Capital Name Bujumbura
Capital - geographic coordinate 3 22 S, 29 21 E
Capital Time Difference UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Independence 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)
National Holiday Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Constitution History: several previous; latest ratified by referendum 28 February 2005

Amendments: proposed by the president of the republic after consultation with the government or by absolute majority support of the membership in both houses of Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Senate membership and at least four-fifths majority vote by the National Assembly; the president can opt to submit amendment bills to a referendum; constitutional articles including those on national unity, the secularity of Burundi, its democratic form of government, and its sovereignty cannot be amended; note - in December 2017, the president began promoting a campaign for a referendum to amend the constitution

Burundi Capital City Map

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Burundi Government and Politics

Who is the president of Burundi?

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 Gaston SINDIMWO (since 20 August 2015); Second Vice President Joseph BUTORE (since 20 August 2015)

Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the 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 on 20 May 2020); vice presidents nominated by the president, endorsed by Parliament; note - a 2018 constitutional referendum effective for the 2020 election, increased the presidential term from 5 to 7 years with a 2-consecutive-term limit, reinstated the position of the prime minister position, and reduced the number of vice presidents from 2 to 1

Election Results: Pierre NKURUNZIZA reelected president; percent of the vote - Pierre NKURUNZIZA (CNDD-FDD) 69.4%, Agathon RWASA (Hope of Burundians - Amizerio y'ABARUNDI) 19%, other 11.6%
Citizenship Criteria: 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
Legal System: A mixed legal system of Belgian civil law and customary law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Legislative Branch: Description: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of:

Senate or Inama Nkenguzamateka (43 seats in the July 2015 election; 36 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 30% of all votes reserved for women; members serve 5-year terms)

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; 60% of seats allocated to Hutu and 40% to Tutsi; 3 seats reserved for Twas; 30% of total seats reserved for 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 in 2020)

Election Results:

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 33, FRODEBU 2, CNDD 1, former heads of state 4, Twas 3, women 8; composition - men 25, women 18, percent of women 41.9%;

National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CNDD-FDD 60.3%, Independents of Hope 11.2%, UPRONA 2.5%, other 26%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 77, Independents of Hope 21, UPRONA 2, women 18, Twas 3; composition - men 77, women 44, percent of women 36.4%; note - total Parliament percent of women 37.8%
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; Commerce Court
Regions or States: 18 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura Mairie, Bujumbura Rural, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro, Ngozi, Rumonge, Rutana, Ruyigi
Political Parties and Leaders: Front for Democracy in Burundi or FRODEBU [Keffa NIBIZI]

Independents of Hope (Amizero y'Abarundi) [Agathon RWASA and Charles NDITIJE]

Movement for Solidarity and Development or MSD [Alexis SINDUHIJE]

National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Front for the Defense of Democracy or CNDD-FDD [Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE]

National Liberation Forces or FNL [Jacques BIGITIMANA]

Union for National Progress (Union pour le Progress Nationale) or UPRONA [Abel GASHATSI]
International Law Organization Participation: Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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 (vacant); Charge D’Affaires Benjamin MANIRAKIZA (since 7 December 2017)

Chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 408, Washington, DC 20007

Telephone: [1] (202) 342-2574

FAX: [1] (202) 342-2578
Diplomatic Representation from US: Chief of Mission: Ambassador Anne S. CASPER (since 20 October 2016)

Embassy: Avenue Des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura

Mailing Address: B.P. 1720, Bujumbura

Telephone: [257] 22-207-000

FAX: [257] 22-222-926
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