Embassy of the Republic of Burundi

Burundi is a landlocked independent state which borders with Rwanda, Tanzania and Congo, thus forming part of the Central African Region. The capital city is Bujumbura. Other major towns are Makamba and Rumonge.

The official languages of Burundi are Ki-Rundi and French. The local currency is the Burundi franc. The country is densely populated, Hutus and Tutsis are the two main ethnic groups.

Burundi established diplomatic relations with the United States in 1962. Since that period, the two countries have enjoyed good diplomatic relations. The cooperation between the two countries was further deepened when in 2007 Burundi committed its troops to the AU peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in order to fight against the terrorist group Al Shabab. This decision was triggered by the strong belief held by both Burundi and the United States that global peace can only prevail in a world freed from terrorism. The Embassy of the Republic of Burundi in Washington DC was established with the aim of strengthening and coordinating the political, economic, military, social and cultural ties between Burundi and the United States. In order to fulfill its mission and carry out its role, the Embassy of the Republic of Burundi in Washington D.C pursues five strategic objectives:

1) To represent the Burundian State vis-à-vis the United States;

2) To protect the rights and interests of Burundi and Burundians who reside within the United States within the limits permitted by international Law and international Agreements;

3) To promote the economic, cultural and scientific relations between Burundi and the United States;

4) To promote and enhance existing partnership agreements between Burundi and the United States;

5) To represent, promote and protect Burundian interests at the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), especially with regard to the Terms and Conditions attached to Financing and Debt Relief.