Burundi Country Profile

- - Related BBC sites Site Version Languages Page last updated at 08:35 GMT, Friday, 18 April 2008 09:35 UK Country profile: Burundi Burundi, one of the world's poorest nations, is emerging from a 12-year, ethnic-based civil war. Since independence in 1961, it has been plagued by tension between the dominant Tutsi minority and the Hutu majority. The ethnic violence sparked off in 1994 made Burundi the scene of one of Africa's most intractable conflicts. It is now beginning to reap the dividends of a peace process. But it faces the formidable tasks of reviving a shattered economy and of forging national unity. OVERVIEW OVERVIEW In 1993 Burundi seemed poised to enter a new era when, in their first democratic elections, Burundians chose their first Hutu head of state, Melchior Ndadaye, and a parliament dominated by the Hutu Front for Democracy in Burundi (Frodebu) party. AT-A-GLANCE Politics: Stability appears to be within reach after years of bloody conflict. The government and the last active rebel group agreed a ceasefire in September 2006 Economy: Half the population lives below the poverty line. Coffee and tea account for most of the foreign currency earnings International: Relative peace after a 12-year ethnic-based civil war has been attributed partly to international mediation and support But within months Ndadaye had been a...