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Image: blickwinkel/Blinkcatcher/picture allianceImage: blickwinkel/Blinkcatcher/picture alliance

Burundi

Burundi is a Central African nation with a population of 13 million that borders the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Tanzania. Burundi gained its independence from Belgium in 1962.

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All Content on this topic

John Mahama's supporters are seen dancing in the streets after his victory

Ghana: Mahama wins presidency with mandate to fix economy

John Mahama's victory has been largely attributed to winning over young voters and sparked enthusiasm across Africa.
PoliticsDecember 12, 2024
Kenia Überschwemmung in Kajiado

How can Africa prepare for natural disasters?

A deadly heatwave in Mali killed hundreds in April and Kenya, Burundi and Tanzania experienced devastating floods.
ClimateMay 2, 202430:00 min
Nigeria | Proteste gegen Inflation

AfricaLink on Air - 28 February 2024

Nigeria's union workers end strike+++Kenyans decry shortage of condoms+++Who are Burundi's RED-Tabara rebels?
PoliticsFebruary 28, 202430:08 min
Evariste Ndayishimiye (left) and Paul Kagame

Burundi-Rwanda tensions rise amid border reclosure

Ties between Burundi and Rwanda have been frosty for years. The border between the two has been closed once again.
PoliticsJanuary 17, 2024
Kombobild Präsident Evariste Ndayishimiye und Präsident Paul Kagame

AfricaLink on Air - 16 January 2024

Burundi escalates conflict with Rwanda +++ Who will win this year's AFCON?
PoliticsJanuary 16, 202429:56 min
A trader pictured at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE)

Sub-Saharan Africa economic review and outlook

2023 was a difficult year for many economies in sub-Saharan Africa. What's the outlook for 2024?
BusinessDecember 29, 202330:00 min
A man holds a sign at a protest in Bujumbura, Burundi in 2015

The long road to reconciliation in Burundi

Thirty years after the civil war between the Hutu and Tutsi began in Burundi, nobody has forgotten the atrocities.
PoliticsOctober 21, 2023
Refugees wash their clothes on June 20, 2018, on World Refugee Day at Dzaleka Refugee Camp

Malawi relocates 900 refugees to camp

Malawi's government has ordered the relocation of refugees and asylum-seekers from the country's cities and towns.
Human RightsJune 20, 202302:19 min
Kenia Präsident William Ruto

AfricaLink on Air - 07 June 2023

Kenya's controversial bill on taxation+++African economist+++Rwanda react to genocide suspect case in The Hague
PoliticsJune 7, 202329:59 min
Burundian refugees from Mahama camp in Rwanda arrive back in Gasenyi, Burundi, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020.

Burundian refugees in Rwanda decry 'reduced' food rations

The refugees accuse Rwanda's government and the UNHCR of starving them to force them to repatriate to Burundi.
Human RightsJanuary 12, 2023
Nigeria Rigasa | Polizist am Bahnhof an der Abuja-Kaduna Zugstrecke

AfricaLink on Air — 09 January 2023

Train station abduction in Edo state, Nigeria +++ Burundi refugees in Rwanda accuse Kigali and UNHCR of starving them
PoliticsJanuary 9, 202330:00 min
Soldiers from Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) pictured in Beni territory, northeastern DRC, on December 8, 2021

Dozens of Burundi rebels killed in eastern Congo

A joint military operation between Congo and Burundi said it has dislodged Burundian rebels from the town of Nabombi.
ConflictsNovember 27, 2022
Migrants walking along a railway track in Serbia

Serbia ends visa waiver for Burundians

Serbia is backing down under EU pressure and imposing entry requirements on Burundians.
PoliticsNovember 3, 2022
Kenya Defence Forces soldiers

Kenya to send soldiers into Democratic Republic of Congo

Kenya says it is deploying troops to fight an insurgency in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
ConflictsNovember 2, 2022
A burned out cell at a prison in Gitega, Burundi

Burundi prison fire kills dozens

A huge fire tore through an overcrowded prison in Burundi, claiming 38 lives and injuring many more.
CrimeDecember 7, 2021
Symbolbild Äthiopien Tigray-Krise | Ausnahmezustand

AfricaLink on Air - 03 November 2021

Rights abuses taking place in Tigray++Rwanda normalizes relations with Burundi++Oil spills wreak havoc on Niger Delta
PoliticsNovember 3, 202129:59 min
Marthe Wandou Preisträgerin 2021 des Right Livelihood Award

AfricaLink on Air - 29 September 2021

Cameroon’s Marthe Wandou wins 2021 Right Livelihood Award for fighting sexual violence and promoting women’s rights.
PoliticsSeptember 29, 202129:27 min
external

Poetry slam to help the environment

Burundian poet Gretta Karly Ineza uses the power of words to inspire others to protect the environment.
SocietyJuly 30, 202101:08 min
Äthiopien l Premierminister Ahmed Abiy

AfricaLink on Air - 24 June 2021

Ethiopia elections - update +++ COVID third wave in Uganda +++SADC military intervention in Mozambique
PoliticsJune 24, 202129:56 min
Portait of Burundian president Evariste Ndayishimiye

Burundi seeks new direction

As President Evariste Ndayishimiye marks one year in office, Burundi is trying to move out of regional isolation.
PoliticsJune 17, 2021
A crowd awaits the return of the Herero and Nama skulls from Germany, at sunrise at the international airport on October 4, 2011, outside Windhoek

Germany faces its colonial past

Pressure has been mounting on Berlin to pay reparations for the brutality meted out on its former colonies 100 years on.
SocietyAugust 30, 2020
Burundian refugees getting temperature checked for coronavirus

Burundian refugees face uncertain future

As Burundian refugees return, observers see this as a chance for Burundi and Rwanda to normalize frosty relations.
PoliticsAugust 28, 2020
Dancers celebrate Burundi's independence from Belgium in 1962

Burundi 'to demand billions' from Germany for colonial rule

The East African country wants its two former rulers to pay damages — and not just in cash, according to a report.
PoliticsAugust 16, 2020
Seniot military officers salutung at Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye's inauguration

Burundi's timid break with the past

Burundi's complete turnabout in handling the COVID-19 pandemic raised hopes of change in the country. Will they prevail?
PoliticsJuly 8, 2020
Burundi Vereidigung Präsident Evariste Ndayishimiye

AfricaLink on Air – 18 June 2020

Evariste Ndayishimiye sworn-in as Burundian president+++Almost 80 million globally forcibly displaced - UNHCR.
PoliticsJune 18, 202029:59 min
Burundi Vereidigung Präsident Evariste Ndayishimiye

AfricaLink on Air – 18 June 2020

Burundi swears in Evariste Ndayishimiye as new president+++African states call for more scrutiny of racism in the US
PoliticsJune 18, 202029:59 min
Burundi's opposition leader Agathon Rwasa bowing before a picture of the late President Pierre Nkurunziza

Burundians inaugurate new president Ndayishimiye

As Burundi swears in its new president, the country is divided about the legacy of his predecessor, Pierre Nkurunziza.
PoliticsJune 16, 2020
Burundi’s incumbent president Pierre Nkurunziza raises his fist as he reacts to supporters during the last campaign rally of the candidate of the ruling party the National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD), in Bujumbura, on May 16, 2020, ahead of Burundi's presidential and general elections scheduled for May 20, 2020.

Burundi: President Pierre Nkurunziza dies at age 55

The cause of death was cardiac arrest, the government said in a post from its official Twitter account.
PoliticsJune 9, 2020
Akinwumi Adesina Porträt Entwicklungsbank Afrika

AfricaLink on Air - 04 June 2020

African leaders rally behind Akin Adesina +++ Burundi: Constitutional Court to rule on election fraud allegations
June 4, 202030:00 min
Mory Kanten guineischer Musiker

AfricaLink on Air – 22 May 2020

Anger in The Gambia over Senegal military incursion +++ Water crisis mar COVID-19 fight in Lagos
May 22, 202030:00 min
Botswana Land und Leute Gaborone Wappen

AfricaLink on Air – 21 May 2020

Over 5 million COVID19 cases worldwide +++ Rights Group calls Burkina Faso authorities out on extrajudicial executions
May 21, 202029:58 min
Coronavirus - Präsidentschaftswahl in Burundi

AfricaLink on Air – 20 May 2020

Burundians go to the polls despite internet outage, virus outbreak
May 20, 202029:59 min
A woman carries her ballot papers during Burundi's election

OHCRC: Burundi's elections aren't 'credible and free'

As Burundi holds elections, the UN's human rights body says the country fails to meet conditions for credible polls.
PoliticsMay 20, 2020
Election officials hold up ballot boxes to show they are empty before voting begins

Burundians vote despite coronavirus outbreak

Experts have said that Wednesday's election in Burundi stands no chance of being free and fair.
PoliticsMay 20, 2020
Medical workers in protective suits carry a dead body

Coronavirus could kill 150,000 in Africa: WHO

Amid rising death tolls, Burundi expelled experts from WHO, drawing international condemnation.
HealthMay 15, 2020
Nigeria Katsina | Coronakrise | Almajiri Vertreibung

AfricaLink on Air – 27 April 2020

Concerns over spread of COVID-19 among Almajiri in Nigeria++Burundians fear polls could increase risk of infections
PoliticsApril 27, 202029:59 min
Burundi's opposition leader Agathon Rwasa

Burundi: Ex-rebel Agathon Rwasa to run for president

Agathon Rwasa alleges that the current government has plans to rig upcoming elections.
PoliticsFebruary 17, 2020
Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza

Is President Pierre Nkurunziza ready to relinquish power?

Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza’s promise to step aside has raised many questions about his motives.
PoliticsJanuary 27, 2020
Demokratische Republik Kongo Kinshasa - Amtseinführung: Felix Tshisekedi wird Kongos Präsident

DRC: President Tshisekedi's first year in office

When Felix Tshisekedi became president in DR Congo's first ever peaceful transfer of power, expectations were mixed.
PoliticsJanuary 24, 2020
Outgoing President Joseph Kabila (right) sits next to his successor Felix Tshisekedi during the inauguration ceremony

Is DRC's Tshisekedi in charge?

DRC president Felix Tshisekedi's last twelve months in office have been marked by political games with his opponents.
PoliticsJanuary 23, 2020

AfricaLink on Air - 22 January 2020

Cameroon crisis intensifies +++ Ugandan made "Sky boy" aircraft nears completion +++ Lake Chad is drying up
January 22, 202029:59 min
Mosambik Inhambane Rehabilitations-Schulen

Farewell to corporal punishment?

30 years ago the UN passed its Convention on the Rights of the Child, but caning and beating remain common practice.
SocietyNovember 20, 2019
John Magufuli waves during an event in South Africa

Tanzania president tells Burundians to 'go home'

A failed coup and deadly clashes in Burundi had prompted thousands to flee across the border.
PoliticsOctober 11, 2019
Refuguees from Burundi in Tanzania waiting on board a UN ship

Tanzania begins mass Burundi refugee deportations

Burundi is going along with the plan, but the UN's refugee agency has objected.
PoliticsOctober 3, 2019
Uganda Kampala | Robert Kyagulanyi bekannt als Bobi Wine wegen "Verhöhnung" des Präsidenten angeklagt

Africalink on Air - 01 October 2019

Tanzania and Burundi agree to return Burundian refugees home+++Ugandan Bobi Wine denounces government ban of 'red beret'
PoliticsOctober 1, 201929:59 min
A member of the military watches as cyclists race down a Bujumbura street during a government organized 'transport bicycle race' in Burundi

'Climate of fear' worsens in Burundi

The Catholic Church has accused the government of violently persecuting opponents.
ConflictsSeptember 25, 2019
Kenia eingestürztes Schulgebäude in Nairobi

AfricaLink on Air – 23 September 2019

A school tragedy in Kenya +++ World leaders talk climate crisis action +++ Burundi government vs. the Catholic Church
September 23, 201929:58 min
Uganda Ebola

Ebola outbreak puts DRC's neighbors on high alert

The WHO did not declare the current outbreak an international emergency as some observers had expected.
HealthJune 15, 2019
Skulls on display at the genocide memorial in Nyamata

25 years on, Rwandan genocide still reverberates

To this day, the 1994 Rwandan genocide has far-reaching consequences for the whole region.
PoliticsApril 1, 2019
Afrika Uganda l Katuna - Grenze zu Ruanda

AfricaLink on Air - 05 March 2019

Rwanda denies closing its borders with Uganda+++Zambia suspends a private TV Channel++Burundi forces UN office to close
PoliticsMarch 5, 201929:59 min