Gitega: Difference between revisions
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'''Gitega''' (formerly '''Kitega''') is the capital and one of the largest cities in [[Burundi]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/which-are-the-biggest-cities-in-burundi.html|title=Biggest Cities In Burundi|date=24 December 2018}}</ref> Located in the center 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]]|website=Encyclopedia Britannica Online|access-date=22 January 2018}}</ref> roughly {{convert|62|km|mi}} east by south of [[Bujumbura]] (the former capital and largest city). Gitega was |
'''Gitega''' (formerly '''Kitega''') is the capital and one of the largest cities in [[Burundi]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/which-are-the-biggest-cities-in-burundi.html|title=Biggest Cities In Burundi|date=24 December 2018}}</ref> Located in the center 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]]|website=Encyclopedia Britannica Online|access-date=22 January 2018}}</ref> roughly {{convert|62|km|mi}} east by south of [[Bujumbura]] (the former capital and largest city). Gitega was the seat 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 economical capital of the country; it effectively became its only political capital between the abolition of the monarchy in 1966 and January 2019).</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></ref> with Bujumbura remaining as economical capital and center 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 January 16, 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 2018 |quote=The vote took place on Wednesday and the leader of parliament said the move would take place over three years.}}</ref> |
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==Geography== |
==Geography== |
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Revision as of 15:33, 23 January 2019
Gitega | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Gitega Location in Burundi | |
| Coordinates: 3°26′S 29°54′E / 3.433°S 29.900°E | |
| Country |  Burundi |
| Province | Gitega Province |
| Elevation | 1,504 m (4,934 ft) |
| Population (2012)[1] | |
| • Total | 22,989 |
Gitega (formerly Kitega) is the capital and one of the largest cities in Burundi.[2] Located in the center of the country, in the Burundian central plateau[3] roughly 62 kilometres (39 mi) east by south of Bujumbura (the former capital and largest city). Gitega was the seat 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 economical capital and center of commerce.[5] A vote in the Parliament of Burundi made the change official on January 16, 2019, with all branches of government expected to move in over three years.[6]
Geography
Gitega is also the capital of the homonymous province, one of the eighteen provinces of Burundi. It is located in the middle of the country, at roughly the same distance between the economical capital Bujumbura and 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 is located on a broad plateau surrounded by hills, a few kilometres southwest of the convergence between the rivers Ruvyironza and Ruvubu.[7] Ruvubu National Park, the country's biggest, lies 26 kilometres (16 mi) to the east.[8]
History
It is the home of the Burundi's National Museum of Gitega and the Archdiocese 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.
Capital city
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.[9]
On December 24, 2018, it was announced by Nkurunziza that Gitega was to become the capital city of Burundi, pending only Parliament approval.[4][10] The expected parliamentary assent (given the President's CNDD-FFD party comfortable majority in both chambers) arrived through a vote on January 16, 2019, with some ministries already starting the move two days later.[6]
Transportation
Gitega was served by Gitega Airport, which is now defunct. 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.[11]
See also
Notes
- ^ From 1922 on, Usumbura (now Bujumbura) acted as a second, colonial, administrative and economical capital of the country; it effectively became its only political capital between the abolition of the monarchy in 1966 and January 2019).
References
- ^ "World Gazetteer". Archived from the original on 2013-01-11.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Biggest Cities In Burundi". 24 December 2018.
- ^ Encyclopedia Britannica. "Gitega (Burundi)". Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
- ^ a b c Agence France-Presse (22 December 2018). "Burundi names Gitega as new capital". The EastAfrican. Nation Media Group. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
- ^ Nimubona, Désiré (24 December 2018). "Burundi Moves Political Capital From Bujumbura to Gitega". Bloomberg. Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
- ^ a b "Burundi to change its capital city". BBC World News. British Broadcasting Company. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
The vote took place on Wednesday and the leader of parliament said the move would take place over three years.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Burundi：Country in the Heart of the African Great Lakes Region". skyticket. 26 June 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
- ^ "Gitega Soon to Become the Capital of Burundi", AllAfrica.com, 27 March 2007, retrieved 15 February 2010
- ^ "Burundi's Political Capital now is Gitega". Emirates Business. 24 December 2018.
- ^ "Road numbering systems - Burundi". Google. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
External links
03°26′S 29°54′E / 3.433°S 29.900°E
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