Sub Saharan Africa

Burundi
Last reviewed: 15 July 2008

Country information

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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Burundi enjoys generally good relations with neighbouring states. Regional states, including Uganda, South Africa and Tanzania, continue to play a role in the post-conflict process. Burundi is seeking to strengthen its regional position and has been granted admission to the East African Community, comprising Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania and is also a participant in the Great Lakes Conference process. Small numbers of Burundian troops were engaged in the DRC at the start of the 1998 – 2003 war in pursuit of Burundian rebels, but it was not involved in the wider regional conflict and relations between Burundi and the DRC have since been normalised. As of August 2007 there were estimated to be more than 350,000 Burundian refugees in Tanzania, although an equal number have returned to Burundi since 2002.

Burundi's Relations with the UK

Diplomatic Representation

Britain and Burundi have excellent relations. The British Ambassador to Rwanda is non-resident Ambassador to Burundi. The Embassy has a Liaison Office in Bujumbura. The Department for International Development (DFID) opened an office in Bujumbura in 2002. The Burundian Ambassador to Belgium is accredited as Ambassador to the UK.

Recent Visits

Outward: Hilary Benn, the then Secretary of State for International Development, (November 2005), Jack Straw, the then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (January 2002), Clare Short, the then Secretary of State for International Development (February 2002).

Inward: First Vice President Martin Nduwimana (April 2007), Minister for External Relations and International Co-operation Antoinette Batumubwira (March 2006), Minister of State Pierre Nkurunziza (November 2004), Vice President Domitien Ndayizeye (April 2002 and again – as President – in July 2003), Foreign Minister Therence Sinunguruza in February 2003, Former President Buyoya October 2003.