# Foreign relations of Burundi

Burundi's relations with its neighbours have often been affected by security concerns. During the Burundian Civil War, hundreds of thousands of Burundian refugees have at various times crossed to neighboring Rwanda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Some Burundian rebel groups have used neighboring countries as bases for insurgent activities. The 1993 embargo placed on Burundi by regional states hurt diplomatic relations with its neighbors; relations have improved since the 1999 suspension of these sanctions.
Burundi is a member of various international and regional organizations, including the United Nations, the African Union, the African Development Bank and the Francophonie. The Swedish Minister for Integration and Gender Equality, Nyamko Sabuni, was born in Burundi.

## Diplomatic relations

List of countries which Burundi maintains diplomatic relations with:
Date :
| 1 | France | 1 July 1962 |
| 2 | Japan | 1 July 1962 |
| 3 | United Kingdom | 1 July 1962 |
| 4 | United States | 1 July 1962 |
| 5 | Netherlands | 4 July 1962 |
| 6 | Belgium | 18 July 1962 |
| 7 | Poland | 8 August 1962 |
| 8 | Russia | 1 October 1962 |
| 9 | Israel | 22 December 1962 |
| 10 | Germany | 24 January 1963 |
| — | Holy See | 11 February 1963 |
| 11 | Czech Republic | 11 March 1963 |
| 12 | China | 21 December 1963 |
| 13 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 1963 |
| 14 | Switzerland | 13 January 1964 |
| 15 | Ghana | 25 August 1964 |
| 16 | Mali | 4 November 1964 |
| 17 | Egypt | 8 December 1964 |
| 18 | Bulgaria | 28 December 1964 |
| 19 | Luxembourg | 29 April 1965 |
| 20 | Ethiopia | 9 June 1965 |
| 21 | Denmark | 25 June 1965 |
| 22 | Kenya | 12 June 1965 |
| 23 | Tanzania | 9 September 1965 |
| 24 | Sweden | 7 December 1965 |
| 25 | Spain | 27 September 1966 |
| 26 | Norway | 1966 |
| 27 | North Korea | 12 March 1967 |
| 28 | Guinea | 28 June 1967 |
| 29 | Uganda | 25 August 1967 |
| 30 | India | 1967 |
| 31 | Italy | 1967 |
| 32 | Hungary | 29 May 1968 |
| 33 | Serbia | 1 August 1968 |
| 34 | Romania | 8 August 1968 |
| 35 | Greece | 1968 |
| 36 | Senegal | January 1969 |
| 37 | Canada | 27 March 1969 |
| 38 | Rwanda | April 1969 |
| 39 | Austria | 1969 |
| 40 | Nigeria | 6 November 1970 |
| 41 | Somalia | 1970 |
| 42 | Sudan | 1970 |
| 43 | Algeria | April 1972 |
| 44 | Syria | April 1972 |
| 45 | Chad | 6 December 1972 |
| 46 | Zambia | 13 March 1973 |
| 47 | Vietnam | 16 April 1973 |
| 48 | Libya | 19 April 1973 |
| 49 | Albania | 7 November 1973 |
| 50 | Cuba | 2 February 1974 |
| 51 | United Arab Emirates | February 1974 |
| 52 | Saudi Arabia | 15 July 1974 |
| 53 | Qatar | 26 October 1974 |
| 54 | Bahrain | 11 November 1974 |
| 55 | Portugal | 22 February 1975 |
| 56 | Oman | 28 February 1975 |
| 57 | Mozambique | 26 June 1975 |
| 58 | Argentina | 20 September 1976 |
| 59 | Gabon | 23 October 1976 |
| 60 | Mexico | 28 July 1977 |
| 61 | Finland | 1 January 1980 |
| 62 | Tunisia | 1 March 1980 |
| 63 | Brazil | 4 March 1980 |
| 64 | Turkey | 30 April 1980 |
| 65 | Cameroon | 1 August 1980 |
| 66 | Iraq | 27 September 1980 |
| 67 | Republic of the Congo | 21 December 1980 |
| 68 | Kuwait | 16 January 1981 |
| 69 | Bangladesh | 23 May 1983 |
| 70 | Djibouti | 13 December 1984 |
| 71 | Iran | 31 March 1985 |
| 72 | Zimbabwe | 26 April 1985 |
| 73 | Indonesia | 31 May 1988 |
| 74 | Thailand | 20 July 1988 |
| 75 | Colombia | 11 November 1988 |
| 76 | Angola | 21 December 1988 |
| 77 | Morocco | 13 September 1991 |
| 78 | South Korea | 3 October 1991 |
| 79 | Armenia | 28 May 1992 |
| 80 | Moldova | 12 June 1992 |
| 81 | Belarus | 24 July 1992 |
| 82 | Estonia | 30 July 1992 |
| 83 | Ukraine | 22 February 1993 |
| 84 | Lithuania | 17 May 1993 |
| 85 | Georgia | 21 May 1993 |
| 86 | Latvia | 24 May 1993 |
| 87 | Cambodia | 25 May 1994 |
| 88 | Azerbaijan | 2 March 1995 |
| 89 | South Africa | 23 June 1995 |
| 90 | Cyprus | 3 October 1995 |
| 91 | Malaysia | 1996 |
| 92 | Slovakia | 29 June 1999 |
| 93 | North Macedonia | 7 February 2000 |
| 94 | Seychelles | 15 July 2002 |
| 95 | Ireland | April 2004 |
| 96 | Pakistan | 9 March 2005 |
| 97 | Iceland | 14 December 2006 |
| 98 | Botswana | 13 March 2007 |
| 99 | Andorra | 30 May 2007 |
| 100 | Slovenia | 27 July 2007 |
| 101 | Australia | 23 August 2007 |
| 102 | Costa Rica | 28 September 2007 |
| 103 | Venezuela | 30 October 2007 |
| 104 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 9 September 2009 |
| 105 | Ivory Coast | 8 April 2010 |
| 106 | Namibia | 23 April 2010 |
| 107 | Paraguay | 2010 |
| 108 | Equatorial Guinea | 23 May 2012 |
| 109 | Montenegro | 17 August 2012 |
| 110 | Solomon Islands | 13 September 2012 |
| 111 | South Sudan | 28 November 2012 |
| 112 | Mongolia | 8 July 2013 |
| 113 | Benin | 13 January 2014 |
| 114 | New Zealand | 16 May 2014 |
| 115 | Monaco | 31 October 2014 |
| 116 | Kazakhstan | 4 December 2014 |
| 117 | Malta | 12 January 2015 |
| 118 | Ecuador | 27 February 2015 |
| 119 | Fiji | 20 March 2015 |
| 120 | Turkmenistan | 12 December 2015 |
| 121 | Sierra Leone | 2 March 2016 |
| 122 | Bolivia | 17 November 2016 |
| 123 | Philippines | 30 June 2017 |
| 124 | Kyrgyzstan | 22 September 2017 |
| 125 | Nepal | 6 June 2018 |
| 126 | Dominican Republic | 26 September 2018 |
| 127 | Tajikistan | 18 October 2018 |
| 128 | Sri Lanka | 11 March 2019 |
| 129 | Nicaragua | 26 June 2019 |
| 130 | Burkina Faso | 28 October 2019 |
| 131 | Vanuatu | 6 December 2019 |
| 132 | Liberia | 22 January 2020 |
| 133 | Croatia | 14 May 2021 |
| 134 | Gambia | 15 October 2021 |
| 135 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 24 November 2021 |
| 136 | Maldives | 20 January 2022 |
| 137 | Laos | 4 February 2022 |
| 138 | Mauritania | 26 July 2022 |
| 139 | Eswatini | 4 August 2022 |
| 140 | Niger | 25 April 2023 |
| 141 | São Tomé and Príncipe | 13 June 2023 |
| 142 | Trinidad and Tobago | 1 September 2023 |
| 143 | El Salvador | 18 September 2023 |
| 144 | Singapore | 6 October 2023 |
| 145 | Belize | 23 September 2024 |
| 146 | Uzbekistan | 24 September 2024 |
| 147 | Madagascar | 26 September 2024 |
| 148 | San Marino | 27 September 2024 |
| — | Sovereign Military Order of Malta | 25 October 2024 |
| 149 | Jordan | 20 February 2025 |
| 150 | Malawi | Unknown |
| 151 | Togo | Unknown |

## Bilateral relations
### Africa

| Country | Formal Relations Began. | Notes |
| Algeria | April 1972 | Both countries established diplomatic relations in April 1972 Algeria is represented in Burundi through its embassy in Bujumbura. Burundi has an embassy in Algiers |
| Angola | 21 December 1988 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 December 1988 when Angola's first Ambassador to Burundi, Miguel Gaspar Neto presented his credentials. Angola is represented in Burundi through its embassy in Tanzania. |
| Benin | | The two countries maintain diplomatic relations. |
| Cameroon | 1 August 1980 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 August 1980 Both countries are members of the Economic Community of Central African States. |
| Central African Republic | | The two countries maintain diplomatic relations and Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza visited the country in 2014. |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | 1963 | Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1963 Burundi has an embassy in Kinshasa. DR Congo has an embassy in Bujumbura. |
| Republic of Congo | 21 December 1980 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 December 1980 Congo is represented in Burundi through its embassy in Rwanda. |
| Egypt | 8 December 1964 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 December 1964 Burundi has an embassy in Cairo. |
| Equatorial Guinea | | Burundi is represented in Equatorial Guinea through its embassy in Nigeria. Equatorial Guinea is represented in Burundi through its embassy in the Republic of Congo. |
| Ethiopia | 9 June 1965 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 June 1965 when the Burundi government has appointed its Ambassador in Addis Ababa, Pascar Bugiriza Burundi has an embassy in Addis Ababa. The two countries maintain friendly and cooperative relations. |
| Ghana | 25 August 1964 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 August 1964 Ghana is represented in Burundi through its embassy in Kenya. |
| Guinea | 28 June 1967 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 June 1967 Guinea is represented in Burundi through its embassy in Gabon. |
| Kenya | 1967 | See Kenya–Burundi relations Kenya has an embassy in Bujumbura. Burundi has an embassy in Nairobi. |
| Malawi | | Malawi is represented in Burundi through its embassy in Tanzania. |
| Morocco | 13 September 1991 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 September 1991 Burundi has an embassy in Rabat. |
| Mozambique | 26 June 1975 | Mozambique is represented in Burundi through its embassy in Tanzania. |
| Nigeria | 6 November 1970 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 November 1970 when M. Jimm Etuk , first Ambassador of Nigeria to Burundi, presented his letters of credentials to colonel Michel Micombero, Head of State. Burundi has an embassy in Abuja. |
| Rwanda | April 1969 | Both countries established diplomatic relations in April 1969Main article: Burundi–Rwanda relations Rwanda has an embassy in Bujumbura. |
| Senegal | January 1969 | Both countries established diplomatic relations in January 1969 Senegal is represented in Burundi through its embassy in Ethiopia. |
| Sierra Leone | 2 March 2016 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 2 March 2016. Sierra Leone is represented in Burundi through its embassy in Ethiopia. |
| Somalia | 1970 | The two countries maintain diplomatic relations and Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo visited Burundi in 2019. |
| South Africa | 23 June 1995 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 23 June 1995 Burundi has an embassy in Pretoria. Both countries are full members of the African Union and of the African Economic Community. |
| South Sudan | 28 November 2012 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 November 2012 South Sudan is represented in Burundi through its embassy in Uganda. |
| Sudan | 1970 | Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1970 Sudan is represented in Burundi through its embassy in Uganda. |
| Tanzania | 9 September 1965 | See Burundi–Tanzania relations Burundi has an embassy in Dar es Salaam. Tanzania has an embassy in Bujumbura. |
| Uganda | 25 August 1967 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 August 1967 when has been accredited Ambassador of Burundi to Uganda (Resident in Dar es Salaam) Mr. P. Mangona. Burundi has an embassy in Kampala. |
| Zambia | 13 March 1973 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 March 1973 Burundi has an embassy in Lusaka. |

### Americas

| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
| Canada | 27 March 1969 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 March 1969 Both countries are full members of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. |
| Mexico | 28 July 1977 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 July 1977 Burundi is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States. Mexico is accredited to Burundi from its embassy in Nairobi, Kenya and maintains an honorary consulate Bujumbura. |
| United States | 1 July 1962 | See Burundi-United States relations Burundi has an embassy in Washington, D.C. United States has an embassy in Bujumbura. |

### Asia

| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
| China | 21 December 1963 | See Burundi–China relations On December 21, 1963, the People's Republic of China established the diplomatic relations with the Republic of Burundi. But on January 29, 1965, the Burundi government unilaterally announced the break-up of the diplomatic relations with China. On October 13, 1971, the two countries restored the diplomatic relations and afterwards it has witnessed a favorable development. Burundi has an embassy in Beijing. China has an embassy in Bujumbura. |
| India | 1967 | See Burundi–India relations Burundi has an embassy in New Delhi. India is accredited to Burundi from its high commission in Kampala, Uganda. Both countries have a number of bilateral agreements. |
| Iraq | 27 September 1980 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 September 1980 when Ambassador of Iraq Mr. Fakhri Ahmed Oasio presented his credentials to President of Burundi Colonel Jean-Baptiste Bagaza. |
| Israel | 22 December 1962 | Diplomatic relations were broken off 16 May 1973 and resumption on 1 March 1995 |
| Kuwait | 16 January 1981 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 16 January 1981 when ambassador of Burundi Mr. Julian Nahabo presented his credentials to Amir of Kuwait Shaikh Jaber. |
| North Korea | 12 March 1967 | See Burundi–North Korea relations |
| South Korea | 3 October 1991 | Establishment of diplomatic Relations between South Korea and the Republic of Burundi was on 3 October 1991. In October 1985 Minister of Finance Pierre Ngerngi attended the Annual General Meeting of the IMF and the IBRD in Seoul, Korea. |
| Vietnam | 16 April 1973 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on April 16, 1973 Both countries are full members of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. |

### Europe

| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
| Belgium | 18 July 1962 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 July 1962. Belgium has an embassy in Bujumbura. Burundi has an embassy in Brussels. |
| Cyprus | 26 November 2001 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 November 2001 Burundi is represented in Cyprus by its embassy in Geneva, Switzerland and an honorary consulate in Nicosia. Cyprus is represented in Burundi by its embassy in Doha, Qatar and an honorary consulate in Bujumbura. Both countries are full members of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. |
| Denmark | 25 June 1965 | Denmark is represented in Burundi, through its embassy in Kampala. Burundi is represented in Denmark, through its embassy in Berlin. |
| Greece | 1968 | Greece is represented in Burundi through its embassy in Uganda, while Uganda is represented in Greece through its embassy in Switzerland. |
| Italy | 1967 | Burundi and Italy maintain diplomatic relations and Italy is represented in Burundi through its embassy in Uganda. |
| Netherlands | 4 July 1962 | The Netherlands have an embassy in Bujumbura. |
| Poland | 8 August 1962 | See Burundi–Poland relations |
| Russia | 1 October 1962 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 October 1962 See Burundi–Russia relations |
| Turkey | 30 April 1980 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 April 1980 Burundi has an embassy in Ankara. Turkey has an embassy in Bujumbura. Trade volume between the two countries was 3.1 million USD in 2019 (Burundi's exports/imports: 0.5/2.6 million USD). |
| United Kingdom | 1 July 1962 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 July 1962 Burundi has an embassy in London, located in Uganda House which houses the High Commission of Uganda. The United Kingdom has a liaison office in Bujumbura. This posting is subordinate to the British Embassy in Kigali, Rwanda. |

## Pacific

| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
| Australia | | Australia is represented in Burundi by its embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. |