The ethnic groups Hutu and Tutsi have occupied the area now known as Burundi for many centuries.
In the early 19th century, Burundi became part of German East Africa; after WWI, Burundi and neighbouring Rwanda were administered by the Belgians.
Both countries gained independence in 1962. Burundi's chronic instability since then is a result of the bitter tribal rivalry between the minority Tutsi who have traditionally dominated the army, the civil service and the higher reaches of the economy, and the majority Hutu, who have often suffered systematic discrimination under the Tutsi efforts to exclude them.
The antagonism has occasionally flared up into mass violence and the massacre of tens of thousands, especially in 1972 and 1988 (although it has never reached the scale of neighbouring Rwanda, where the same ethnic split prevails).
Three military coups happened between 1966 and 1987; at that point, Pierre Buyoya - the dominant political figure of the last 15 years - took control. Multiparty elections for a National Assembly were held in June 1993, and President Buyoya was replaced by Hutu banker Melchior Ndadaye. In October 1993, another military coup was unsuccessful, but claimed the life of President Ndadaye.
In January 1994, another Hutu, Cyprien Ntaryamira, on returning from an overseas trip with Rwandan president Juvénal Habyarimana, was killed in a plane crash; this incident set off the genocide in Rwanda. Burundi narrowly avoided the same fate, although tensions between Tutsi and Hutu sharply increased, and the civil war that followed claimed 300,000 lives.
Two years later, Buyoya took over once again in another coup. The guerrilla war between Hutu rebels and the Tutsi-dominated army intensified. However, mediation efforts by the Tanzanians and, crucially, Nelson Mandela, served to pacify things in 2000, with a final settlement in November 2001. A transitional government, jointly led by Buyoya and FRODEBU leader Domitien Ndayizeye, held power until April 2003, when Ndayizeye became the country's sole leader.
A South African-led African Union peacekeeping force has been brought in to try and control the country. In August 2005, Pierre Nkurunziza was elected as President in the final step of a deal to end 12 years of war between Hutu rebels and the Tutsi army.
77% of the population are Christian, the majority of which are Roman Catholic; there are Anglican and Pentecostal minorities. 22% adhere to animist beliefs. There is also a small (1%) Muslim community.
Social conventions:Normal social courtesies apply. However, outside the cities people may not be used to visitors, and care and tact must be used in respect of local customs. Inhabitants of major towns generally have a more modern way of life. Dress should be reasonably conservative.
The official languages are French and Kirundi, a Bantu language. Swahili and English are also spoken.
