Central Africa.

GMT + 3.

27,816 sq km (10,740 sq miles).

7.3 million (2005).

262.4 per sq km.

Bujumbura. Population: 200,000 (2005).

Burundi is a land-locked country in the heart of Africa, a little south of the equator, on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika. It is bordered by Rwanda to the north, by the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west and by Tanzania to the south and east. The interior is a broken plateau sloping east to Tanzania and the valley of the River Malagarasi. The southern tributary of the Nile system rises in the south of the country. The landscape is characterised by hills and valleys covered with eucalyptus trees, banana groves, cultivated fields and pasture. In the east, the fertile area gives way to savannah grassland, and tea and coffee are now grown on mountainsides.

Republic. Gained independence from Belgium in 1966.

President Pierre Nkurunziza since 2005.

In the final years of the 1990s, the guerrilla war between Hutu rebels and the Tutsi-dominated army intensified. However, mediation efforts by the Tanzanians and, crucially, Nelson Mandela, drew most of the parties into a draft accord in March 2000, with a final settlement in November 2001. The largest Hutu rebel group, the Forces for the Defence of Democracy (FDD), signed the accord, although dissident FDD elements, along with the other main rebel group, the National Liberation Front (which has not signed) continued their guerrilla war against the government. Nonetheless, the accord has worked out reasonably well and been implemented on schedule.

A transitional government jointly led by Buyoya and FRODEBU leader Domitien Ndayizeye, held power until April 2003, when Buyoya stood down and Ndayizeye became the country’s sole leader. A South African-led African Union peacekeeping force has been brought in to try and control the country – a formidable task by any standards.

Former rebel leader Pierre Nkurunziza was elected as president in August 2005 in the final step of a deal to end 12 years of war between Hutu rebels and the Tutsi army. Although he was the only candidate, he is the first president chosen through democratic means since the start of the civil war in 1993. Under the new terms of the deal agreed between the government and Hutu rebels, democracy will be balanced with guarantees for the Tutsi minority.

Under the 1998 constitution, modified from the 1992 constitution, executive power rests with an elected president. Two vice-presidential posts, assigned to the two main ethnic groups, were also created. Legislative power is held by the National Transitional Assembly, comprising the 81 elected members of the former National Assembly elected under the old 1992 constitution, plus 40 additional members appointed from political parties and ‘civil society’.

The official languages are French and Kirundi, a Bantu language. Swahili and English are also spoken.

77% of the population are Christian, the majority of which are Roman Catholic; there are Anglican and Pentecostal minorities. 22% adhere to animist beliefs. There is also a small (1%) Muslim community.

220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Normal social courtesies apply. However, outside the cities people may not be used to visitors, and care and tact must be used in respect of local customs. Inhabitants of major towns generally have a more modern way of life. Dress should be reasonably conservative.