FOREIGN
RELATIONS
Burundi's relations with its neighbors have often been affected by security concerns. The Great Lakes is home to a number of illegal armed groups, including the Burundian Palipehutu-FNL. Thousands of Burundian refugees have at various times crossed into Rwanda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Thousands of Burundians fled to neighboring countries during the civil war, more than 48,000 of whom sought refuge in Tanzania. Burundi maintains close relations with all neighbors in the Great Lakes region, including Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In reaffirming Burundi's commitment to regional peacekeeping and allegiance to the African Union, the government recently deployed troops to quell the ongoing crisis in Somalia.
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 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. Burundi is also a member of the Tripartite Plus Commission, which convenes member countries of the Great Lakes region in an effort to end the threat of armed groups and foster stability.
Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--Patricia Newton Moller
Deputy Chief of Mission--JoAnne Wagner
Political Officers--Lewis Carroll, Matthew Garrett
Economic Officer--Mark Carr
Management Officer--Anthony Kleiber
Consular Officer--Caren Brown
Regional Security Officer--Christopher Bakken
General Service Officer--Chelsea Bakken
The U.S. Embassy is located at Avenue des Etats Unis (Boite Postale 1720), Bujumbura (tel. [257] 22-34-54).
