Police, People's Militia
Military manpower-availability:
males age 15-49: 2,317,227 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service:
males: 1,187,840 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $104 million (1994)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 6.4% (1994)
@Burkina Faso:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
______________________________________________________________________
BURMA
@Burma:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of
Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand
Geographic coordinates: 22 00 N, 98 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 678,500 sq km
land: 657,740 sq km
water: 20,760 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 5,876 km
border countries: Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km,
Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km
Coastline: 1,930 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers
(southwest monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall,
mild temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon,
December to April)
Terrain: central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Andaman Sea 0 m
highest point: Hkakabo Razi 5,881 m
Natural resources: petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper,
tungsten, lead, coal, some marble, limestone, precious stones, natural
gas
Land use:
arable land: 15%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 49%
other: 34% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10,680 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and
landslides common during rainy season (June to September); periodic
droughts
Environment-current issues: deforestation; industrial pollution of
air, soil, and water; inadequate sanitation and water treatment
contribute to disease
Environment-international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the
Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography-note: strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping
lanes
@Burma:People
Population: 47,305,319 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 36% (male 8,798,474; female 8,461,791)
15-64 years: 59% (male 14,052,386; female 14,019,244)
65 years and over: 5% (male 888,773; female 1,084,651) (July 1998
est.)
Population growth rate: 1.65% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 28.96 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 12.51 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 78.35 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.51 years
male: 53.03 years
female: 56.08 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.7 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Burmese (singular and plural)
adjective: Burmese
Ethnic groups: Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%,
Mon 2%, Indian 2%, other 5%
Religions: Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%),
Muslim 4%, animist beliefs 1%, other 2%
Languages: Burmese, minority ethnic groups have their own languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.1%
male: 88.7%
female: 77.7% (1995 est.)
@Burma:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Union of Burma
conventional short form: Burma
local long form: Pyidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw (translated by the US
Government as Union of Myanma and by the Burmese as Union of Myanmar)
local short form: Myanma Naingngandaw
former: Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma
Data code: BM
Government type: military regime
National capital: Rangoon (regime refers to the capital as Yangon)
Administrative divisions: 7 divisions* (yin-mya, singular-yin) and 7
states (pyine-mya, singular - pyine); Chin State, Ayeyarwady*, Bago*,
Kachin State, Kayin State, Kayah State, Magway*, Mandalay*, Mon State,
Rakhine State, Sagaing*, Shan State, Tanintharyi*, Yangon*
Independence: 4 January 1948 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 4 January (1948)
Constitution: 3 January 1974 (suspended since 18 September 1988);
national convention started on 9 January 1993 to draft a new
constitution; chapter headings and three of 15 sections have been
approved
Legal system: does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Peace and
Development Council Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992); note-the
prime minister is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Peace and
Development Council Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992); note-the
prime minister is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: State Peace and Development Council (SPDC); military junta,
so named 15 November 1997, which initially assumed power 18 September
1988 under the name State Law and Order Restoration Council; the SPDC
oversees the cabinet
elections: none; the prime minister assumed power upon resignation of
the former prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly or Pyithu Hluttaw
(485 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 27 May 1990, but Assembly never convened
election results: percent of vote by party-NA%; seats by party-NLD
396, NUP 10, other 79
Judicial branch: limited; remnants of the British-era legal system in
place, but there is no guarantee of a fair public trial; the judiciary
is not independent of the executive
Political parties and leaders: Union Solidarity and Development
Association (USDA, proregime), THAN AUNG, general secretary; National
Unity Party (NUP, proregime), THA KYAW; National League for Democracy
(NLD), AUNG SHWE, chairman, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, general secretary; and
eight minor legal parties
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Coalition Government
of the Union of Burma (NCGUB), headed by Dr. SEIN WIN-consists of
individuals legitimately elected to the People's Assembly but not
recognized by the military regime; the group fled to a border area and
joined with insurgents in December 1990 to form a parallel government;
Kachin Independence Army (KIA); United Wa State Army (UWSA); Karen
National Union (KNU); several Shan factions; All Burma Student
Democratic Front (ABSDF)
International organization participation: AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador TIN WINN
chancery: 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-9044, 9045
FAX: [1] (202) 332-9046
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Kent M.
WIEDEMANN
embassy: 581 Merchant Street, Rangoon (GPO 521)
mailing address: Box B, APO AP 96546
telephone: [95] (1) 282055, 282181 (operator assistance required)
FAX: [95] (1) 280409
Flag description: red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side
corner bearing, all in white, 14 five-pointed stars encircling a
cogwheel containing a stalk of rice; the 14 stars represent the 14
administrative divisions
@Burma:Economy
Economy-overview: Burma has a mixed economy with private activity
dominant in agriculture, light industry, and transport, and with
substantial state-controlled activity, mainly in energy, heavy
industry, and the rice trade. Government policy in the last nine
years, 1989-97, has aimed at revitalizing the economy after three
decades of tight central planning. Thus, private activity has markedly
increased; foreign investment has been encouraged, so far with
moderate success; and efforts continue to increase the efficiency of
state enterprises. Published estimates of Burma's foreign trade are
greatly understated because of the volume of black-market trade. A
major ongoing problem is the failure to achieve monetary and fiscal
stability. Although Burma remains a poor Asian country, its rich
resources furnish the potential for substantial long-term increases in
income, exports, and living standards.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$55.7 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 6% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$1,190 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 61%
industry: 10%
services: 29% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 30%-40% (1997 est.)
Labor force:
total: 18.8 million (FY95/96 est.)
by occupation: agriculture 65.2%, industry 14.3%, trade 10.1%,
government 6.3%, other 4.1% (FY88/89 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $7.9 billion
expenditures: $12.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.7
billion (FY96/97)
Industries: agricultural processing; textiles and footwear; wood and
wood products; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; construction materials;
pharmaceuticals; fertilizer
Industrial production growth rate: 9.2% (FY95/96 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 1.212 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 4.1 billion kWh (FY95/96 est.)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 79 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: paddy rice, corn, oilseed, sugarcane, pulses;
hardwood
Exports:
total value: $693 million (1996)
commodities: pulses and beans, teak, rice, rubber, hardwood
partners: Singapore, China, Indonesia, India, Thailand
Imports:
total value: $1.4 billion (1996)
commodities: machinery, transport equipment, construction materials,
food products, consumer goods
partners: Japan, Singapore, China, Thailand, Malaysia
Debt-external: $5.3 billion (FY94/95 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $61 million (1993)
Currency: 1 kyat (K) = 100 pyas
Exchange rates: kyats (K) per US$1-6.3941 (January 1998) 6.2418
(1997), 5.9176 (1996), 5.6670 (1995), 5.9749 (1994), 6.1570 (1993);
unofficial-310-350 (1998)
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
Communications
Telephones: 122,195 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: meets minimum requirements for local and intercity
service for business and government; international service is good
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1985 est.)
note: radiobroadcast coverage is limited to the most populous areas
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1988 est.)
Televisions: 88,000 (1992 est.)
@Burma:Transportation
Railways:
total: 3,569 km
narrow gauge: 3,569 km 1.000-m gauge (1995)
Highways:
total: 28,200 km
paved: 3,440 km
unpaved: 24,760 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 12,800 km; 3,200 km navigable by large commercial vessels
Pipelines: crude oil 1,343 km; natural gas 330 km
Ports and harbors: Bassein, Bhamo, Chauk, Mandalay, Moulmein,
Myitkyina, Rangoon, Akyab (Sittwe), Tavoy
Merchant marine:
total: 45 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 561,786 GRT/742,450 DWT
ships by type: bulk 15, cargo 18, chemical tanker 1, container 2, oil
tanker 3, passenger-cargo 3, refrigerated cargo 1, vehicle carrier 2
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 2 countries:
Japan owns 2 ships, US 3 (1997 est.)
Airports: 80 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 24
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 7 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 56
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 19
under 914 m: 32 (1997 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1997 est.)
@Burma:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability:
males age 15-49: 12,208,916
females age 15-49: 11,983,225 (1998 est.)
note: both sexes liable for military service
Military manpower-fit for military service:
males: 6,523,797
females: 6,387,291 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually:
males: 488,818
females: 469,850 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $380 million (FY96/97 est.)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: NA%
@Burma:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
Illicit drugs: world's largest illicit producer of opium (cultivation
in 1997-155,150 hectares, a 5% decline from 1996; potential
production-2,365 metric tons, an 8% drop from 1996) and a minor
producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; surrender of
drug warlord KHUN SA's Mong Tai Army in January 1996 was hailed by
Rangoon as a major counternarcotics success, but lack of serious
government commitment and resources continue to hinder the overall
antidrug effort; growing role in the production of methamphetamines
for regional consumption
______________________________________________________________________
BURUNDI
Introduction
Current issues: in a number of waves since October 1993, hundreds of
thousands of refugees have fled the ethnic violence between the Hutu
and Tutsi factions in Burundi and crossed into Rwanda, Tanzania, and
Zaire (now called Democratic Republic of the Congo); since October
1996, an estimated 92,000 Hutu refuguees have been forced to return to
Burundi by Tutsi rebel forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
leaving an estimated 35,000 still dispersed there; in Burundi, the
ethnic violence between the Hutus and the Tutsis continued in 1996,
causing an additional 150,000 Hutus to flee to Tanzania, thus raising
their numbers in that country to about 250,000
@Burundi:Geography
Location: Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates: 3 30 S, 30 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 27,830 sq km
land: 25,650 sq km
water: 2,180 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 974 km
border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 233 km, Rwanda 290
km, Tanzania 451 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation
(772 m to 2,760 m); average annual temperature varies with altitude
from 23 to 17 degrees centigrade but is generally moderate as the
average altitude is about 1,700 m; average annual rainfall is about
150 cm; wet seasons from February to May and September to November,
and dry seasons from June to August and December to January
Terrain: hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some
plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m
highest point: Mount Heha 2,760 m
Natural resources: nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt,
copper, platinum (not yet exploited), vanadium
Land use:
arable land: 44%
permanent crops: 9%
permanent pastures: 36%
forests and woodland: 3%
other: 8% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 140 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: flooding, landslides
Environment-current issues: soil erosion as a result of overgrazing
and the expansion of agriculture into marginal lands; deforestation
(little forested land remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees
for fuel); habitat loss threatens wildlife populations
Environment-international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography-note: landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo
watershed
@Burundi:People
Population: 5,537,387 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 47% (male 1,313,112; female 1,309,600)
15-64 years: 50% (male 1,331,336; female 1,417,228)
65 years and over: 3% (male 69,718; female 96,393) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.51% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 41.61 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 17.38 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 10.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 101.19 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 45.56 years
male: 43.79 years
female: 47.38 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.4 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Burundian(s)
adjective: Burundi
Ethnic groups: Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%,
Europeans 3,000, South Asians 2,000
Religions: Christian 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%),
indigenous beliefs 32%, Muslim 1%
Languages: Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili (along Lake
Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 35.3%
male: 49.3%
female: 22.5% (1995 est.)
@Burundi:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Burundi
conventional short form: Burundi
local long form: Republika y'u Burundi
local short form: Burundi
Data code: BY
Government type: republic
National capital: Bujumbura
Administrative divisions: 15 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi,
Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba,
Muramvya, Muyinga, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi
Independence: 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian
administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Constitution: 13 March 1992; provides for establishment of a plural
political system
Legal system: based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary
law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Pierre BUYOYA (interim president since 27
September 1996); note-former President NTIBANTUNGANYA was overthrown
in a coup on 25 July 1996 and took refuge for 11 months in the US
ambassador's residence in Bujumbura; former Major (retired) Pierre
BUYOYA has not been recognized as president of Burundi by the US or
most other governments
head of government: Prime Minister Pascal-Firmin NDIMIRA (since 31
July 1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by prime minister
elections: NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (81 seats; members are popularly elected on a proportional
basis to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 29 June 1993 (scheduled to be held in 1998,
although no date has been set)
election results: percent of vote by party-FRODEBU 71%, UPRONA 21.4%;
seats by party - FRODEBU 65, UPRONA 16; other parties won too small
shares of the vote to win seats in the assembly
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders: Unity for National Progress or UPRONA
[Charles MUKASI, president]; Burundi Democratic Front or FRODEBU [Jean
MINANI, president]; Socialist Party of Burundi or PSB; People's
Reconciliation Party or PRP [Mathias HITIMANA, leader]; opposition
parties, legalized in March 1992, include Burundi African Alliance for
the Salvation or ABASA; Rally for Democracy and Economic and Social
Development or RADDES [Cyrille SIGEJEJE, chairman]; and Party for
National Redress or PARENA [Jean-Baptiste BAGAZA, leader]
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC,
CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Henri
SIMBAKWTRA
chancery: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 342-2574
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Morris N. HUGHES, Jr. (27 June l996)
embassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura
mailing address: B. P. 1720, Bujumbura
telephone: [257] (2) 223454
FAX: [257] (2) 222926
Flag description: divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels
(top and bottom) and green panels (hoist side and outer side) with a
white disk superimposed at the center bearing three red six-pointed
stars outlined in green arranged in a triangular design (one star
above, two stars below)
@Burundi:Economy
Economy-overview: Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country in an
early stage of economic development. The economy is predominately
agricultural with roughly 90% of the population dependent on
subsistence agriculture. Its economic health depends on the coffee
crop, which accounts for 80% of foreign exchange earnings. The ability
to pay for imports therefore rests largely on the vagaries of the
climate and the international coffee market. As part of its economic
reform agenda, launched in February 1991 with IMF and World Bank
support, Burundi is trying to diversify its agricultural exports,
attract foreign investment in industry, and modernize government
budgetary practices. Since October 1993 the nation has suffered from
massive ethnic-based violence which has resulted in the death of
perhaps 100,000 persons and the displacement of a million others.
Foods, medicines, and electricity remain in short supply. An
impoverished and disorganized government can hardly implement the
needed reform programs.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$4 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 4.4% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$660 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 56%
industry: 18%
services: 26% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 26% (1996 est.)
Labor force:
total: 1.9 million
by occupation: agriculture 93.0%, government 4.0%, industry and
commerce 1.5%, services 1.5% (1983 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $222 million
expenditures: $258 million, including capital expenditures of $92
million (1995 est.)
Industries: light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap;
assembly of imported components; public works construction; food
processing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity-capacity: 43,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 158 million kWh (1995)
note: imports some electricity from Democratic Republic of the Congo
Electricity-consumption per capita: 32 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet
potatoes, bananas, manioc (tapioca); meat, milk, hides
Exports:
total value: $40 million (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities: coffee 81%, tea, cotton, hides
partners: EU 60%, US 7%, Asia 1%
Imports:
total value: $127 million (c.i.f., 1996)
commodities: capital goods 26%, petroleum products, foodstuffs,
consumer goods
partners: EU 47%, Asia 25%, US 6%
Debt-external: $1.1 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Burundi franc (FBu) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Burundi francs (FBu) per US$1-412.59 (January 1998),
352.35 (1997), 302.75 (1996), 249.76 (1995), 252.66 (1994), 242.78
(1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 7,200 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: primitive system
domestic: sparse system of open wire, radiotelephone communications,
and low-capacity microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0