burundi

• republic of burundi, country in east-central africa
the republic of burundi is a country in central africa. it was part of german east africa from 1899 until the first world war. belgium administered it until independence in 1962. ethnic conflict, between the majority hutu and politically dominant tutsi, has been a source of civil disorder and widespread violence. the union for national progress (uprona) was the sole legal party from 1966 to 1992, when political parties were legalized. melchior ndadaye, a hutu, was elected president in 1993 and was assassinated the same year. in the ethnic violence which followed, more than 100,000 people were killed and 1.5 million displaced. cyprien ntaryamira was elected president by the legislature in 1994, but was killed with president habyarimana of rwanda when their plane crashed. sylvestre ntibantunganya became acting president. ethnic violence continued. burundi is a member of the organization of african unity. it exports coffee, tea, and cotton.