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History of burundi and civil war
History of burundi and civil war
Burundi, a small landlocked country in East Africa, has a rich yet tumultuous history. Originally a kingdom in the 16th century, it became part of German East Africa in 1890. After World War I, Belgium took control, and Burundi, along with Rwanda, became part of the Belgian mandate of Ruanda-Urundi. It was only in 1962 that Burundi gained independence. The country experienced a devastating civil war from 1993 to 2005, sparked by ethnic tensions between the Hutu majority and Tutsi minority, resulting in approximately 300,000 deaths.
After the civil war ended in 2005, Burundi began rebuilding under President Pierre Nkurunziza, whose decade in power gradually became more authoritarian. A major political crisis erupted in 2015 when he sought a third term, triggering mass protests, an attempted coup, and a violent crackdown that displaced hundreds of thousands. Despite international criticism, Nkurunziza remained in office until 2020, when Évariste Ndayishimiye was elected shortly before Nkurunziza’s unexpected death. Ndayishimiye has since promised reforms, though concerns about political freedoms, economic hardship, and periodic tensions with Rwanda continue to shape Burundi’s recent history.
Demographics and economic situatioin
Demographics and economic situatioin
In spite of the above issues with civil war, Burundi still has a population of about 13.7 million, 41.5% of whom are below the age of 15 years old. In terms of population density, Burundi’s population represents a density of 442 people per square kilometre. This compares to Australia’s population density of 3.6 people per square kilometre.
As a young independent nation impacted by civil war, it is understandable that Burundi struggles economically. In fact, Burundi has a GDP in 2023 of just $US 2.6 billion and a GDP per capita of US$199.6 making it the poorest country in the world (in terms of GDP per capita). As a point of reference, prominent mining company, BHP Billiton’s made a profit of $14.3 billion in 2023, making its business activities larger than that of the whole of Burundi.
Given these challenging economic conditions, it makes it imperative to invest in education as a means to improve Burundi’s future. Education can provide individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to secure employment, foster economic growth, and break the cycle of poverty, ultimately uplifting entire communities. It is under this context that the ABSF is able to comprehensively support students (covering each student’s tuition, school uniforms and school supplies) for just A$250 per year.
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