Authorities in Burundi have named the city of Gitega as the country’s new political capital.
The small central city now takes over from the bigger city of Bujumbura. The change of capital city was in fulfilment of a presidential promise, over ten years ago.
Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza in 2007 promised the movement of the capital from Bujumbura to Gitega.
He then said Gitega was more central compared to Bujumbura. Gitega however has a population of about 30,000 compared to Bujumbura’s 1.2 million.
The official declaration was carried out on Saturday, according to government officials.
Jean-Claude Karerwa Ndenzako, spokesman for President Pierre Nkurunziza said on Twitter that the government “adopted an historic bill making Gitega the political capital and making Bujumbura the economic capital.”
He added that “Cabinet meetings will henceforth be held in Gitega, where five ministries will also be established from the start of 2019.”
Le @BurundiGov vient d’adopter un Projet de loi Historique fixant la Capitale Politique à @Gitega et la Capitale Economique à @MairieBujumbura. Les séances du Conseil des Ministres se tiendront désormais à Gitega où cinq ministères seront aussi établis dès le début de l’an 2019 pic.twitter.com/OSA0qnqyQd
— J.C Karerwa Ndenzako (@KarerwaNdenzako) December 21, 2018
Bujumbura still a key city
Bujumbura however remains an important city for Burundi with officials saying it will in future function solely as the economic centre of the country.
The previous capital remains the largest city in Burundi. It is home to the country’s main port. Most of Burundi’s chief export like coffee, cotton and tin ore are shipped to Bujumbura.
Gitega once was the capital of the Burundian monarchy with Nkurunziza’s critics saying he is attempting a symbolic restoration.
Bujumbura since Burundi’s independence in 1962 has been the scene of continuous fighting between the country’s two main ethnic groups.
Thousands of people have been killed in the fighting with several more than 400,000 people displaced.
Source: Africafeeds.com
