FOREIGN
RELATIONS
Burundi's relations with its neighbors have often been affected by security concerns. Hundreds of thousands of Burundian refugees have at various times crossed into Rwanda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Hundreds of thousands of Burundians fled to neighboring countries during the civil war. Most of them, more than 750,000 since 1993, sought refuge in Tanzania. More than 430,000 remain in camps in Tanzania. Burundi maintains close relations with all neighbors in the Great Lakes region, including Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Burundi is a member of various international and regional organizations, including the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the African Union, the African Development Bank, COMESA, the free-tariff zone of eastern and southern Africa, and the East Africa Community (EAC).
U.S.-BURUNDI
RELATIONS
U.S. Government goals in Burundi are to help the people of Burundi realize a just and lasting peace based upon democratic principles and sustainable economic development. The United States encourages political stability, ongoing democratic reforms, political openness, respect for human rights, and economic development in Burundi. In the long term, the United States seeks to strengthen the process of internal reconciliation and democratization within all the states of the region to promote a stable, democratic community of nations that will work toward mutual social, economic, and security interests on the continent.
The United States supported the Arusha peace process, providing financial support through our assessed contributions to a UN peacekeeping force established in 2004.
Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--Patricia Newton Moller
Deputy Chief of Mission--Ann K. Breiter
Political/Economic Officers--Lewis Carroll, Caren Brown
Management Officer--George Lawson
Consular Officer--Matthew Garret
Regional Security Officer--Michael Jordan
General Service Officer--Lynn Whiteheart
The U.S. Embassy is located at Avenue des Etats Unis (Boite Postale 1720), Bujumbura (tel. [257] 22-34-54).
