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General Information Area: 27,834 sq km (10,747 sq miles). Population: 6,483,000 (1999). Population Density: 232.9 per sq km. Capital: Bujumbura. Population: 300,000 (1993). GEOGRAPHY: Burundi is a land-locked country in the heart of Africa, a little south of the equator, on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika. It is bordered by Rwanda to the north, by the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west and by Tanzania to the south and east. The interior is a broken plateau sloping east to Tanzania and the valley of the River Malagarasi. The southern tributary of the Nile system rises in the south of the country. The landscape is characterised by hills and valleys covered with eucalyptus trees, banana groves, cultivated fields and pasture. In the east, the fertile area gives way to savannah grassland, and tea and coffee are now grown on mountainsides. Government: Republic. Gained independence from Belgium in 1966. Head of State and Government: President Pierre Buyoya since 1996. Burundi is in a state of civil war. Language: The official languages are French and Kirundi, a Bantu language. Swahili and English are also spoken. Religion: Mainly Roman Catholic; there are Anglican and Pentecostalist minorities. Animist beliefs are held by a significant minority. There is also a small Muslim community. Time: GMT + 2. Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Communications:   Telephone IDD is available. Country code: 257. Outgoing international code: 00. Outgoing international calls must be made through the international operator (16). Mobile telephone GSM 900 networks are operated by Telcel Burundi (website: www.telecel.com), SAFARIS and Spacetel. Coverage is mainly over the west of the country. Internet ISPs include the Government-run CBI Net (website: www.cbinf.com). New Internet providers are currently being set up in Bujumbura. There are a few Internet cafes in Bujumbura. Telegram Facilities are available from Direction des Télécommunications in Bujumbura. Post The main post office in Bujumbura is open Mon-Fri 0730-1200 and 1400-1730, Sat 0830-1200. Press No English-language newspapers are published. Most publications are in French (such as Le Renouveau du Burundi) or local languages (such as Ubumwe in Kirundi). The two main newspapers are government-controlled. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 17.89 15.42 9.630 6.005 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 15.58 11.98 6.035 0.909 From www.columbusguides.com, Copyright © 2004 Highbury Columbus Travel Publishing Terms and Conditions apply.