Burundi: Political overview

The constitutional path that Burundi has followed since independence has been variegated and characterised by abrupt discontinuities, frequent U-turns and unexpected continuities.

What follows is an attempt to sketch the emergence and development of the modern Burundian state.

• Pre-colonial Burundi (1300 - 1890)
• German colonialism (1890 - 1916)
• Belgian colonial rule (1916 - 1962)
• Fall of the Monarchy (1962 - 1966)
• First Republic (1966 - 1976)
• Second Republic (1976 - 1987)
• Third Republic (1987 - 1996)
• Fourth Republic (1996 - 2001)
• Transitional Government (2001 - 2005)