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Burundi: Democratic Republic
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Burundi is a small land-locked country in central Africa and lies just south of the equator. It is bordered by Rwanda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Its population is around 6.8 million.
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Based on Burundi's successful transition from war to peace and the establishment of a democratically elected government in Burundi in September 2005, the United States Government lifted all sanctions on assistance to Burundi on October 18, 2005. Burundi ... became eligible for trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act in December 2005.
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While the world watched the horror of genocide in Rwanda, neighbouring Burundi was living its own nightmare. A twelve-year civil war began in 1993 when the first democratically elected Hutu president was assassinated.
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On July 1, 1962, the country became an independent kingdom ruled by the mwami of Burundi. The mid-1960s were marked by fighting between the Tutsis and Hutus and by struggles for power among the Tutsis. In 1965 a coup attempted by Hutus failed, and the Tutsis retaliated by executing most Hutu political leaders and many other Hutus. In July, 1966, Mwambutsa IV was deposed by his son, who became Ntare V. The new ruler was himself deposed by a military coup in Nov., 1966, when a republic was established.
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In 1963 thousands of Hutu victimized in Burundi took refuge in Rwanda. The Burundian power structure remained in Tutsi hands, despite a Hutu majority in the legislature after 1965. Accusing Mwambutsa of intriguing to strengthen his position, a group of Hutu police attempted a coup in October 1965. Loyalist police led by Captain Michel Micombero, a Tutsi, thwarted the rebels, but the mwami fled the country. In July 1966 he was declared deposed by his son, Mwami Ntare V. Four months later Micombero led a successful coup, declared Burundi a republic, appointed himself president, and established a National Revolutionary Committee to help stabilize his regime and develop the economy. In April 1972 a Hutu uprising led to widespread massacres claiming at least 100,000 lives, mainly Hutu.
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The general election by universal election held in June 1993 resulted in victory of the Democratic Front party of Burundi (FRODEBU). Unfortunately, the Burundi first democratically elected president Melchior NDADAYE was assassinated in October 1993 after only four months in office. Since then, some Burundians have perished in widespread, often intense ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi factions. Hundreds of thousands have been internally displaced or have become refugees in neighboring countries.
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Democratic Republic