Burundi: List of all the neighbourhoods of Bujumbura, including the ethnicity and socio-economic status of the inhabitants of those neighbourhoods (1998 - November 2002)

The following is a summary of information provided by a journalist from Net Press, a private Burundian newspaper, and by the executive secretary of the Burundian Human Rights League (Ligue burundaise des droits de l'homme, ITEKA), affiliated with the International Federation of Human Rights Leagues (FIDH), during telephone interviews held respectively on 12 and 13 November 2002.

The municipality of Bujumbura is divided into zones, which are its basic administrative units. However, when referring to these units, people often use amongst themselves their former name of "neighbourhood" (quartier), instead of using the new term "zone."

The zones that make up the municipality of Bujumbura are Ngagara, Cibitoke, Kamenge, Bwiza, Buyenzi, Kinama, Mutanga South, Mutanga North, Gatoke, Kinindo, Kiriri, Rohero, Gihosha, Gikungu, Musaga, Kanyosha and Nyakabiga.

Since 1993, people of the same ethnic background have had a tendency to regroup in certain zones. However, there are no zones exclusively reserved to Hutus or Tutsis, but rather zones mainly inhabited by Hutus or Tutsis.

The Ngagara, Cibitoke, Nyakabiga, Mutanga South, Gatoke, Kinindo and Musaga zones are known to be mainly inhabited by Tutsis, while the Kamenge, Mutanga North, Gihosha, Gikungu, Kanyosha and Kinama zones are mainly inhabited by Hutus. However, in the Kiriri, Rohero, Bwiza and Buyenzi zones, members of the two ethnic groups are represented more evenly. There is also a high concentration of foreigners in the Bwiza and Buyenzi zones.

The Kiriri, Gatoke, Kinindo and Rohero zones are known to be inhabited by the upper class (ministers, ambassadors, important businessmen, etc.). Mutanga North, Mutanga South, Gihosha and Gikungu are also inhabited by people who are fairly well off (senior officials, university professors, doctors, etc.). The Ngagara zone is inhabited by the middle class (civil servants and small shopkeepers), while the Cibitoke, Bwiza, Buyenzi, Kinama, Musaga, Kanyosha, Nyakabiga and Kamenge zones are inhabited by people with lower incomes (small vendors, drivers, unemployed workers, etc.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Ligue burundaise des droits de l'homme (ITEKA), Bujumbura. 13 November 2002. Telephone interview with executive secretary.

Net Press [Bujumbura]. 12 November 2002. Telephone interview with journalist.

Additional Sources Consulted

Africa Confidential [London]. 1998-Nov. 2002.

Africa Research Bulletin [London]. 1998-Nov. 2002.

IRB Databases.

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. Nov.-Dec. 2002.

LEXIS/NEXIS.

Resource Centre country file. Burundi.

Internet sites including:

Africatime.

Allafrica.

Amnesty International.

FIDH.

HRW.

ITEKA.

In-Burundi.net.

MISNA.

Nouvelles du Burundi.

Reliefweb.

Umuco.