of a plural
political system; supplanted on 6 June 1998 by a Transitional
Constitution which enlarged the National Assembly and created two vice
presidents

Legal system: based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary
law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Pierre BUYOYA (interim president since 27
September 1996, officially sworn in 11 June 1998), First Vice
President Frederic BAMVUGINYUMVIRA (since NA May 1998), Second Vice
President Mathias SINAMENYA (since NA May 1998); note - the president
is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Pierre BUYOYA (interim president since
27 September 1996, officially sworn in 11 June 1998), First Vice
President Frederic BAMVUGINYUMVIRA (since NA May 1998), Second Vice
President Mathias SINAMENYA (since NA May 1998); note - the president
is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president
elections: NA; current president assumed power following a coup on 25
July 1996 in which former President NTIBANTUNGANYA was overthrown

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (121 seats; note - new Transitional Constitution expanded
the number of seats from 81 to 121 in 1998; members are elected by
popular vote on a proportional basis to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 29 June 1993 (next was scheduled to be held in
1998, but suspended by presidential decree in 1996)
election results: percent of vote by party - FRODEBU 71.04%, UPRONA
21.4%, other 7.56%; seats by party - FRODEBU 65, UPRONA 16, various
other parties 40

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Political parties and leaders: Unity for National Progress or UPRONA
; Burundi Democratic Front or FRODEBU [Jean
MINANI, president]
note: opposition parties, legalized in March 1992, include Burundi
African Alliance for the Salvation or ABASA ; Rally for
Democracy and Economic and Social Development or RADDES [Cyrille
SIGEJEJE, chairman]; Party for National Redress or PARENA
; Socialist Party of Burundi or PSB ;
People's Reconciliation Party or PRP

Political pressure groups and leaders: Loosely organized Tutsi
militias

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC,
CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Inter