Burundi

American  

[boo-roon-dee] / bʊˈrʊn di /

noun

1. a republic in central Africa, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo: formerly the southern part of the Belgian trust territory of Ruanda-Urundi; gained independence on July 1, 1962. 10,747 sq. mi. (27,834 sq. km). Bujumbura.

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Burundi British  

/ bəˈrʊndɪ /

noun

1. Former name (until 1962): Urundi.  a republic in E central Africa: inhabited chiefly by the Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa (Pygmy); made part of German East Africa in 1899; part of the Belgian territory of Ruanda-Urundi from 1923 until it became independent in 1962; ethnic violence has erupted at times between Hutu and Tutsi, as in Rwanda; consists mainly of high plateaus along the main Nile-Congo dividing range, dropping rapidly to the Great Rift Valley in the west. Official languages: Kirundi and French. Religion: Christian majority. Currency: Burundi franc. Capital: Bujumbura. Pop: 10 888 321 (2013 est). Area: 27 731 sq km (10 707 sq miles)

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Burundi Cultural  

1. Nation in Central Africa, bordered by Rwanda on the north, Democratic Republic of Congo on the west, and Tanzania on the east and south. Its capital is Bujumbura. It achieved independence in 1962. It has been torn by ethnic conflict between Tutsis and Hutus.

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Other Word Forms

• Burundian
  adjective

Example Sentences

The ruling ends a long-running case that was brought by two nationals from Burundi, who reapplied for asylum in 2018 after their applications were rejected in 2014.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

Canada’s Fraser Institute assesses that Algeria is among the most unfree countries in the world, ranking below Libya and just above Burundi on Fraser’s index of human freedom.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

Despite parallel peace efforts backed by the United States and Qatar, the M23 launched a new offensive on the strategic town of Uvira near the Burundi border in December.

From Barron's • Jan. 23, 2026

The WFP says it is supporting 71,000 new Congolese arrivals to Burundi with hot meals in transit centres.

From BBC • Dec. 23, 2025

World Relief and the International Rescue Committee opened offices in Clarkston to better serve the newcomers, and resettled still more refugees—from war-ravaged African countries including Liberia, Congo, Burundi, Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea.

From "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference" by Warren St. John