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Coordinates: 03°25′42″S 29°55′30″E / 3.42833°S 29.92500°E / -3.42833; 29.92500
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{{Short description|Capital of Burundi}}
{{Infobox Settlement
{{Redirect|Capital of Burundi|the former capital until 2019|Bujumbura}}
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{{Infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info ---------------->
|official_name =Gitega
| official_name = Gitega
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<!-- images and maps ----------->
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| photo3b = Kibimba School Memorial - Flickr - Dave Proffer (1).jpg
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<!-- Politics ----------------->
<!-- Politics ----------------->
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<!-- Area --------------------->
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<!-- Population ----------------------->
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<!-- Population ----------------------->
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.isteebu.bi/index.php/publications/annuaires-statistiques |title=Institute de statistiques et d'etudes economiques du burundi, (Annuaires Statistiques 2016, p 23) |access-date=2019-03-28 |archive-date=2017-09-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911171821/http://www.isteebu.bi/index.php/publications/annuaires-statistiques |url-status=dead }}</ref>
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'''Gitega''' ({{IPA|fr|ɡiteɡa}}), formerly '''Kitega''', is the [[Capital city|political capital]] of [[Burundi]]. Located in the centre of the country, in the Burundian central plateau<ref name=britannica>{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Gitega |title=Gitega (Burundi)|author=Encyclopedia Britannica|author-link=Encyclopedia Britannica|website=Encyclopedia Britannica Online|access-date=22 January 2018}}</ref> roughly {{convert|62|km|mi}} east of [[Bujumbura]], the largest city and former political capital, Gitega is the country's fourth largest city<ref>https://worldpopulationreview.com/cities/burundi</ref> and former royal capital of the [[Kingdom of Burundi]] until its abolition in 1966.<ref name="gitegaafp">{{cite web|url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/ea/Burundi-names-Gitega-as-new-capital/4552908-4906718-ckc120/index.html|title=Burundi names Gitega as new capital|author=Agence France-Presse|date=22 December 2018|website=The EastAfrican|publisher=Nation Media Group|access-date=22 January 2018}}</ref><ref group=note>From 1922 on, Usumbura (now Bujumbura) acted as a second, colonial, administrative and economic capital of the country; it effectively became its only political capital between the abolition of the monarchy in 1966 and January 2019.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}</ref> In late December 2018, Burundian president [[Pierre Nkurunziza]] announced that he would follow on a 2007 promise to return Gitega its former political capital status,<ref name=gitegaafp /> with Bujumbura remaining as economic capital and centre of commerce.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-12-24/burundi-moves-political-capital-from-bujumbura-to-gitega|title=Burundi Moves Political Capital From Bujumbura to Gitega|last=Nimubona |first=Désiré |date=24 December 2018|website=Bloomberg|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|access-date=22 January 2018}}</ref> A vote in the [[Parliament of Burundi]] made the change official on 16 January 2019, with all branches of government expected to move in over three years.<ref name=bbcnews>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/ce1qrvlel07t/burundi |title=Burundi to change its capital city |date=17 January 2019 |website=BBC World News |publisher=British Broadcasting Company |access-date=22 January 2019 |quote=The vote took place on Wednesday and the leader of parliament said the move would take place over three years.}}</ref>{{Update inline|date=December 2023}}


==Geography==
'''Gitega''' (formerly '''Kitega''') is the second largest city in [[Burundi]], lying east of [[Bujumbura]]. It is the capital of [[Gitega Province]], one of the 17 provinces of [[Burundi]]. It is the home of the [[Burundi National Museum]] and the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Gitega|Archdiocese of Gitega]]. Several ''[[karyenda]]'' royal drum [[sanctuary|sanctuaries]] are located in the area, as well as the ''[[ibwami]]'' ([[royal court]]).
Gitega is the capital of [[Gitega Province]], one of the eighteen [[provinces of Burundi]]. It is located in the center of the country, at roughly the same distance between the commercial capital, Bujumbura on [[Lake Tanganyika]] to the west, the [[Tanzania]]n border to the east—both at around {{convert|62|km|mi}}—and the [[Rwanda]]n border, about {{convert|72|km|mi}} to the north. It lies on a broad plateau surrounded by hills, a few kilometres southwest of the confluence of the [[Ruvyironza River|Ruvyironza]] and [[Rurubu River]]s.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hughes |first1=R.H. |last2=Hughes |first2=J.S. |date=1992 |title=A Directory of African Wetlands |location=Cambridge, United Kingdom |publisher=International Union for Conservation of Nature |page=97 |isbn=2-88032-949-3}}</ref> [[Ruvubu National Park]], the country's biggest, lies {{convert|26|km|mi}} to the east.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://skyticket.com/guide/712|title=Burundi:Country in the Heart of the African Great Lakes Region|date=26 June 2018|website=skyticket|access-date=January 22, 2018}}</ref>


== Capital city ==
==Climate==
{{Weather box
In March 2007, [[President of Burundi]] Mr. [[Pierre Nkurunziza|Nkurunziza]] announced that Burundi is planning to bring back its capital city to Gitega, a city located in centre of the country in the province of the same name.
| width = auto
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| location = Gitega (1991–2020)
| Jan record high C = 35.0
| Feb record high C = 35.4
| Mar record high C = 32.0
| Apr record high C = 31.3
| May record high C = 30.1
| Jun record high C = 30.8
| Jul record high C = 30.7
| Aug record high C = 31.7
| Sep record high C = 32.6
| Oct record high C = 32.9
| Nov record high C = 31.8
| Dec record high C = 33.8
| year record high C = 35.4
| Jan high C = 27.6
| Feb high C = 27.5
| Mar high C = 27.1
| Apr high C = 26.4
| May high C = 25.9
| Jun high C = 26.7
| Jul high C = 27.3
| Aug high C = 28.1
| Sep high C = 28.4
| Oct high C = 27.5
| Nov high C = 26.6
| Dec high C = 27.0
| year high C = 27.2
| Jan mean C = 21.9
| Feb mean C = 21.8
| Mar mean C = 21.6
| Apr mean C = 21.5
| May mean C = 21.1
| Jun mean C = 21.2
| Jul mean C = 21.3
| Aug mean C = 22.3
| Sep mean C = 22.4
| Oct mean C = 21.8
| Nov mean C = 21.3
| Dec mean C = 21.6
| year mean C = 21.6
| Jan low C = 16.1
| Feb low C = 16.0
| Mar low C = 16.1
| Apr low C = 16.5
| May low C = 16.4
| Jun low C = 15.7
| Jul low C = 15.3
| Aug low C = 16.4
| Sep low C = 16.4
| Oct low C = 16.2
| Nov low C = 15.9
| Dec low C = 16.1
| year low C = 16.1
| Jan record low C = 12.9
| Feb record low C = 12.9
| Mar record low C = 12.8
| Apr record low C = 14.0
| May record low C = 13.6
| Jun record low C = 11.6
| Jul record low C = 11.3
| Aug record low C = 12.5
| Sep record low C = 13.0
| Oct record low C = 12.9
| Nov record low C = 12.7
| Dec record low C = 13.1
| year record low C = 11.3
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 99.8
| Feb precipitation mm = 96.7
| Mar precipitation mm = 142.9
| Apr precipitation mm = 142.4
| May precipitation mm = 107.7
| Jun precipitation mm = 44.7
| Jul precipitation mm = 10.4
| Aug precipitation mm = 39.2
| Sep precipitation mm = 88.0
| Oct precipitation mm = 109.4
| Nov precipitation mm = 192.1
| Dec precipitation mm = 185.3
| year precipitation mm = 1258.8
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 7.3
| Feb precipitation days = 7.4
| Mar precipitation days = 12.5
| Apr precipitation days = 15.5
| May precipitation days = 11.1
| Jun precipitation days = 1.8
| Jul precipitation days = 0.6
| Aug precipitation days = 2.4
| Sep precipitation days = 6.9
| Oct precipitation days = 13.4
| Nov precipitation days = 17.3
| Dec precipitation days = 14.1
| year precipitation days = 110.1
| source 1 = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="WMONormals">{{cite web
|url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/4.4/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Rwanda/CSV/GITEGA.csv
|title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Gitega
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = June 16, 2024}}</ref>
}}


==History==
According to Mr. Nkurunziza, Gitega's central location makes an ideal place to better serve the majority of the Burundi population.


Gitega was at one time the seat of the [[Kingdom of Burundi]] and remained as capital of the [[List of kings of Burundi|kings of Burundi]] (''mwami'') until 1966.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}
== Statistics ==
* Elevation = 1504m
* Population = 38,641


The Germans founded the town of Gitega in 1912 when Burundi was part of [[German East Africa]].<ref>Françoise Le Guennec-Coppens, Pat Caplan, ''Les Swahili entre Afrique et Arabie'', KARTHALA Editions, France, 1991, p. 174</ref>
==External links==
*[http://allafrica.com/stories/200703261020.html/ Burundi: Capital to Move]
*[http://www.gitega.com/ Gitega]


In March 2007, [[List of Presidents of Burundi|President of Burundi]] [[Pierre Nkurunziza]] announced that Burundi was planning to bring back its capital city to Gitega, saying that it is in a better location for a capital than Bujumbura.<ref>{{Citation
=== Maps ===
| title = Gitega Soon to Become the Capital of Burundi
* [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/BY/21/Gitega.html FallingRain Map]
| newspaper = [[AllAfrica.com]]
| date = 27 March 2007
| url = http://allafrica.com/stories/200703270775.html
| access-date =15 February 2010
}}</ref>


On 24 December 2018, it was announced by Nkurunziza that Gitega was to become the capital city of Burundi, pending only Parliament approval.<ref name=gitegaafp /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://emirates-business.ae/burundis-political-capital-now-is-gitega/|title=Burundi's Political Capital now is Gitega|work=Emirates Business|date=24 December 2018}}</ref> The expected parliamentary assent (given the President's [[National Council for the Defense of Democracy – Forces for the Defense of Democracy|CNDD-FFD]] party comfortable majority in both chambers) arrived through a vote on 16 January 2019, with some ministries already starting the move two days later.<ref name=bbcnews />


On 7 December 2021, [[Gitega prison fire|a fire broke out]] in an overcrowded prison in Gitega, killing at least 38 and injuring more than 69.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|date=2021-12-07|title=Burundi prison fire kills at least 38 in Gitega|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-59560444|access-date=2021-12-07}}</ref>
{{Burundi-geo-stub}}

{{coor title dm|3|26|S|29|54|E|}}
== Education ==
The Polytechnic University of Gitega was founded in 2014.<ref>DAM, "[https://burundi-agnews.org/sports-and-games/burundi-debut-des-cours-a-luniversite-polytechnique-de-gitega-en-fevrier/ Burundi: Début des cours à l’Université Polytechnique de Gitega en février]", burundi-agnews.org, Burundi, January 9, 2014.</ref>

==Culture==
It is the home of Burundi's [[National Museum of Gitega]]. Several ''[[karyenda]]'' royal drum [[sanctuary|sanctuaries]] are located in the area, as well as the ''[[ibwami]]'' ([[royal court]]). On 29 April 1972, [[Ntare V of Burundi]], the country's last ''[[King of Burundi|Mwami]]'' (King), was killed in Gitega.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

== Places of worship ==
[[Places of worship]] in Gitega are predominantly [[Christianity|Christian]] churches and cathedrals, including: [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Gitega]] ([[Catholic Church]]), [[Province of the Anglican Church of Burundi]] ([[Anglican Communion]]), [[Union of Baptist Churches in Burundi]] ([[Baptist World Alliance]]), and [[Assemblies of God]].<ref>J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann, "Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices", ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, p.456.</ref> There are also [[Islam|Muslim]] mosques.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

==Transportation==
Gitega was served by [[Gitega Airport]], which is now defunct.{{when|date=January 2022}} Gitega is served by four National Roads (''Routes Nationales'', RN): RN2 connects it with Bujumbura through the northwest, via [[Muramvya Province|Muramvya]] and [[Bujumbura Rural Province|Bujumbura Rural]] provinces. RN15 leads to the north of country, towards [[Ngozi, Burundi|Ngozi]] and continuing on to [[Rwanda]], while passing through the ancient royal court of [[Gishora]]; RN12, which separates from RN15 on the outskirts of Gitega, heads northeast to serve the provinces of [[Karuzi Province|Karuzi]] and [[Muyinga Province|Muyinga]]. The last is RN3, which heads towards the southwest towards [[Rumonge]] and Lake Tanganyika.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sites.google.com/site/roadnumberingsystems/home/countries/burundi|title= Burundi|website=Road numbering systems |publisher=Google Sites |access-date=January 22, 2018}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Burundi}}
*[[Commune of Gitega]]
*[[:Category:People from Gitega]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book |last1=Chrétien |first1=Jean-Pierre |title=Gitega, capitale du Burundi : une ville du Far West en Afrique orientale allemande, 1912-1916 |date=2015 |publisher=Éditions Karthala |location=Paris |isbn=9782811115098}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Gitega|position=left}}


{{List of African capitals}}
[[Category:Cities, towns and villages in Burundi]]
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Burundian monarchy]]


[[de:Gitega]]
[[Category:Gitega| ]]
[[et:Gitega]]
[[Category:Gitega Province]]
[[Category:Populated places in Burundi]]
[[es:Gitega]]
[[Category:Capitals in Africa]]
[[fr:Gitega]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1912]]
[[id:Gitega]]
[[Category:1912 establishments in German East Africa]]
[[it:Gitega]]
[[nl:Gitega (stad)]]
[[nds:Gitega]]
[[pl:Gitega]]
[[ro:Gitega]]
[[fi:Gitega]]
[[sv:Gitega]]

Latest revision as of 14:14, 7 November 2024

Gitega
Top: Gitega skyline; Middle: Cathedral of Christ the King, Downtown Gitega; National Museum of Gitega, Kibimba School Memorial
Gitega is located in Burundi
Gitega
Gitega
Location in Burundi
Gitega is located in Africa
Gitega
Gitega
Gitega (Africa)
Coordinates: 03°25′42″S 29°55′30″E / 3.42833°S 29.92500°E / -3.42833; 29.92500
Country Burundi
ProvinceGitega Province
Area
22 km2 (8 sq mi)
 • Urban
22 km2 (8 sq mi)
 • Metro
27 km2 (10 sq mi)
Elevation
1,504 m (4,934 ft)
Population
 (2020)[1]
135,467
 • Density6,200/km2 (16,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+02:00 (Central Africa Time)
 • Summer (DST)(Not Observed)

Gitega (French pronunciation: [ɡiteɡa]), formerly Kitega, is the political capital of Burundi. Located in the centre of the country, in the Burundian central plateau[2] roughly 62 kilometres (39 mi) east of Bujumbura, the largest city and former political capital, Gitega is the country's fourth largest city[3] and former royal capital of the Kingdom of Burundi until its abolition in 1966.[4][note 1] In late December 2018, Burundian president Pierre Nkurunziza announced that he would follow on a 2007 promise to return Gitega its former political capital status,[4] with Bujumbura remaining as economic capital and centre of commerce.[5] A vote in the Parliament of Burundi made the change official on 16 January 2019, with all branches of government expected to move in over three years.[6][needs update]

Geography

[edit]

Gitega is the capital of Gitega Province, one of the eighteen provinces of Burundi. It is located in the center of the country, at roughly the same distance between the commercial capital, Bujumbura on Lake Tanganyika to the west, the Tanzanian border to the east—both at around 62 kilometres (39 mi)—and the Rwandan border, about 72 kilometres (45 mi) to the north. It lies on a broad plateau surrounded by hills, a few kilometres southwest of the confluence of the Ruvyironza and Rurubu Rivers.[7] Ruvubu National Park, the country's biggest, lies 26 kilometres (16 mi) to the east.[8]

Climate

[edit]
Climate data for Gitega (1991–2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 35.0
(95.0)
35.4
(95.7)
32.0
(89.6)
31.3
(88.3)
30.1
(86.2)
30.8
(87.4)
30.7
(87.3)
31.7
(89.1)
32.6
(90.7)
32.9
(91.2)
31.8
(89.2)
33.8
(92.8)
35.4
(95.7)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 27.6
(81.7)
27.5
(81.5)
27.1
(80.8)
26.4
(79.5)
25.9
(78.6)
26.7
(80.1)
27.3
(81.1)
28.1
(82.6)
28.4
(83.1)
27.5
(81.5)
26.6
(79.9)
27.0
(80.6)
27.2
(81.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) 21.9
(71.4)
21.8
(71.2)
21.6
(70.9)
21.5
(70.7)
21.1
(70.0)
21.2
(70.2)
21.3
(70.3)
22.3
(72.1)
22.4
(72.3)
21.8
(71.2)
21.3
(70.3)
21.6
(70.9)
21.6
(70.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 16.1
(61.0)
16.0
(60.8)
16.1
(61.0)
16.5
(61.7)
16.4
(61.5)
15.7
(60.3)
15.3
(59.5)
16.4
(61.5)
16.4
(61.5)
16.2
(61.2)
15.9
(60.6)
16.1
(61.0)
16.1
(61.0)
Record low °C (°F) 12.9
(55.2)
12.9
(55.2)
12.8
(55.0)
14.0
(57.2)
13.6
(56.5)
11.6
(52.9)
11.3
(52.3)
12.5
(54.5)
13.0
(55.4)
12.9
(55.2)
12.7
(54.9)
13.1
(55.6)
11.3
(52.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 99.8
(3.93)
96.7
(3.81)
142.9
(5.63)
142.4
(5.61)
107.7
(4.24)
44.7
(1.76)
10.4
(0.41)
39.2
(1.54)
88.0
(3.46)
109.4
(4.31)
192.1
(7.56)
185.3
(7.30)
1,258.8
(49.56)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 7.3 7.4 12.5 15.5 11.1 1.8 0.6 2.4 6.9 13.4 17.3 14.1 110.1
Source: NOAA[9]

History

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Gitega was at one time the seat of the Kingdom of Burundi and remained as capital of the kings of Burundi (mwami) until 1966.[citation needed]

The Germans founded the town of Gitega in 1912 when Burundi was part of German East Africa.[10]

In March 2007, President of Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza announced that Burundi was planning to bring back its capital city to Gitega, saying that it is in a better location for a capital than Bujumbura.[11]

On 24 December 2018, it was announced by Nkurunziza that Gitega was to become the capital city of Burundi, pending only Parliament approval.[4][12] The expected parliamentary assent (given the President's CNDD-FFD party comfortable majority in both chambers) arrived through a vote on 16 January 2019, with some ministries already starting the move two days later.[6]

On 7 December 2021, a fire broke out in an overcrowded prison in Gitega, killing at least 38 and injuring more than 69.[13]

Education

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The Polytechnic University of Gitega was founded in 2014.[14]

Culture

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It is the home of Burundi's National Museum of Gitega. Several karyenda royal drum sanctuaries are located in the area, as well as the ibwami (royal court). On 29 April 1972, Ntare V of Burundi, the country's last Mwami (King), was killed in Gitega.[citation needed]

Places of worship

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Places of worship in Gitega are predominantly Christian churches and cathedrals, including: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Gitega (Catholic Church), Province of the Anglican Church of Burundi (Anglican Communion), Union of Baptist Churches in Burundi (Baptist World Alliance), and Assemblies of God.[15] There are also Muslim mosques.[citation needed]

Transportation

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Gitega was served by Gitega Airport, which is now defunct.[when?] Gitega is served by four National Roads (Routes Nationales, RN): RN2 connects it with Bujumbura through the northwest, via Muramvya and Bujumbura Rural provinces. RN15 leads to the north of country, towards Ngozi and continuing on to Rwanda, while passing through the ancient royal court of Gishora; RN12, which separates from RN15 on the outskirts of Gitega, heads northeast to serve the provinces of Karuzi and Muyinga. The last is RN3, which heads towards the southwest towards Rumonge and Lake Tanganyika.[16]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ From 1922 on, Usumbura (now Bujumbura) acted as a second, colonial, administrative and economic capital of the country; it effectively became its only political capital between the abolition of the monarchy in 1966 and January 2019.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ "Institute de statistiques et d'etudes economiques du burundi, (Annuaires Statistiques 2016, p 23)". Archived from the original on 2017-09-11. Retrieved 2019-03-28.
  2. ^ Encyclopedia Britannica. "Gitega (Burundi)". Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  3. ^ https://worldpopulationreview.com/cities/burundi
  4. ^ a b c Agence France-Presse (22 December 2018). "Burundi names Gitega as new capital". The EastAfrican. Nation Media Group. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  5. ^ Nimubona, Désiré (24 December 2018). "Burundi Moves Political Capital From Bujumbura to Gitega". Bloomberg. Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Burundi to change its capital city". BBC World News. British Broadcasting Company. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2019. The vote took place on Wednesday and the leader of parliament said the move would take place over three years.
  7. ^ Hughes, R.H.; Hughes, J.S. (1992). A Directory of African Wetlands. Cambridge, United Kingdom: International Union for Conservation of Nature. p. 97. ISBN 2-88032-949-3.
  8. ^ "Burundi:Country in the Heart of the African Great Lakes Region". skyticket. 26 June 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  9. ^ "World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Gitega". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  10. ^ Françoise Le Guennec-Coppens, Pat Caplan, Les Swahili entre Afrique et Arabie, KARTHALA Editions, France, 1991, p. 174
  11. ^ "Gitega Soon to Become the Capital of Burundi", AllAfrica.com, 27 March 2007, retrieved 15 February 2010
  12. ^ "Burundi's Political Capital now is Gitega". Emirates Business. 24 December 2018.
  13. ^ "Burundi prison fire kills at least 38 in Gitega". BBC News. 2021-12-07. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
  14. ^ DAM, "Burundi: Début des cours à l’Université Polytechnique de Gitega en février", burundi-agnews.org, Burundi, January 9, 2014.
  15. ^ J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann, "Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices", ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, p.456.
  16. ^ "Burundi". Road numbering systems. Google Sites. Retrieved January 22, 2018.

Further reading

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  • Chrétien, Jean-Pierre (2015). Gitega, capitale du Burundi : une ville du Far West en Afrique orientale allemande, 1912-1916. Paris: Éditions Karthala. ISBN 9782811115098.
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