A: Burundi lies on the geographical coordinates of 3° 30' 0" S, 30° 0' 0" E.

Latitude and Longitude of Burundi in other units:

More detail about Burundi

Burundi: a divided land

Burundi is one of the smallest countries in Africa. Despite its tiny size, however, it is home to millions of people of the Hutu and Tutsi tribes. The problem with this is that the Hundu and Tutsi are at odds. Everything started when a tribe of Hutu attacked and killed thousands of Tutsi shortly after the nation was granted independence. Enraged, the Tutsi fell back and began to attack the Hutu, starting a civil war that lasted for over fifty years.

It took over a decade to bring an uneasy peace to the land. The efforts of Nelson Mandela, the United Nations, Tanzia, Uganda, and South Africa produced a representational government in which power is shared between the tribes. Each tribe has an equal say in the voting for its national leader and no tribe has more legal benefits than another. The constitution was rewritten according to popular vote and the first elections were held soon after.

Orphanages are being set up, as are hospitals, and the water infrastructure is slowly being rebuilt. Refugee camps are shutting down one by one, and people are going home. Sadly, having people finally able to return home is creating new problems. During the absence of many refugees, other people moved into their land and homes and there are many, sometimes violent, disputes over who the proper owners of the land are.

Despite the movement towards a peaceful future, Burundi is struggling. Many people have AIDS, creating many orphans as the parents die of illness. Due to lack of farming and mostly broken infrastructure, famine is widespread and access to clean water is difficult for many people.

Burundi is a divided land with a troubled past, and it will take a long time and a lot of work until it reaches an untroubled future.