Fact file

Known as the Switzerland of Africa, Burundi is the highest geographical location in the continent. The land locked former Belgian colony has ended a 10-year civil war with several rebel groups following a peace agreement.

The tribal war took more than 300 000 lives and made over a million people, internally displaced or living abroad as refugees, according to the UN. In a recent election, a new government has been formed in alliance with the rebels who are the majority in parliament.

Reports reveal that the war has reduced the country into becoming the world's third-poorest country. Even more startling, the government depends on the taxes it gets from beer consumption for more than half of its annual revenue. The peace agreement termed the "Arusha Accord" signed in August 2000 transferred the Presidency from the Tutsi minority to the Hutu majority.

In a country that has about 7-million people baHutu makes up 85 percent of the population and the baTutsi the balance 15 percent.

Burundi produces the best coffee in the world. Its major natural resources are nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum, vanadium and hydropower. It produces cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, cassava, beef, milk, hides light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap and light industrial products.