Located in central Africa, Burundi is a poor, remote and forgotten country.
There are no tourist attractions, no big shopping malls, no lucrative economic activity, and it's not safe, and the woods in the mountains are populated by militias of different factions.
For more than 100 years, Burundians have never lived in safety and security! Before World War II, Germany and Belgium occupied successively. After the war, Burundi and Rwanda were gradually divided into two countries. Burundi officially became independent in 1962, but the two major ethnic groups in the country have been at odds for a long time, the Hutu population is large, but the Tutsi have the right to rule, and the struggle between the two communities is endless.
In October 1993, an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 people were killed and countless homes and schools burned. Six months later, in April 1994, Hutu extremists in neighbouring Rwanda attacked and massacred Tutsis, killing an estimated 800 to 1 million people.
Perhaps, the Rwandan genocide was even more tragic and bloody, and the world's eyes and aid poured into Rwanda, but Burundi was almost forgotten! Today, Rwanda is one of the fastest growing economies in Africa, but Burundi remains the poorest and most backward country in Africa and the world.
Monaco, which ranks first in the world in terms of per capita GDP, is 165999 US dollars, and Burundi's per capita GDP is only 272 US dollars, ranking first among 194 countries in the world. There are many reasons for poverty in this country; Mainly due to decades of uninterrupted civil war, high corruption, inefficient administration, extremely densely populated with about 11.2 million, it is the second most densely populated country in Africa, with an average of 5.1 children per woman.
With low levels of education, the world's lowest per capita wealth, and 65% of the poor, it is undeservedly the poorest country in the world. The medical problems are serious, with an average life expectancy of 57 years and an under-five mortality rate of 8 per cent. Cholera is endemic, AIDS is spreading, and the AIDS rate among people aged 14-49 years is 1%. Transportation is inconvenient, there are no railways in the territory, most roads lack maintenance, and it is muddy during the rainy season. More than ninety percent of the population lives in rural areas, agriculture is the main economy, accounting for 70% of the country's income, and the main crops are coffee and tea. The main grains are cassava and sweet potatoes, but there is a lack of excellent arable land, the agricultural infrastructure is very backward, and the farming methods are very primitive. Most people in Burundi do not have enough to eat. As a result, more than 50% of Burundi's population is chronically hungry, and it is also one of the countries with the worst internet access in the world. Only 3% of the population has access to the internet.
Although it is an African country, Burundi has abundant rainfall, but unfortunately has no water conservancy, and its ability to withstand natural disasters is very low, which often causes serious flooding, so food production is insufficient, and the entire country is almost entirely dependent on international assistance to survive.
There were police and security guards with long guns everywhere, and not a single youth hostel in the country was available.
The whole country is full of this kind of pig cage car, Asian countries import old big trucks to walk between villages, no seats, the ticket is about 0.1 US dollars, but there are still many people who can't even afford to build a pig cage car, and walk a long way to the market with more than a dozen pounds on their heads.
Old cars from all over Asia can be found in Africa
This hellish ghost country is more chilling and frightening than any other country. There is no pleasure in traveling at all, only experience what chaos is. The whole country is corrupt, and the whole people are suffering! It is the unhappiest country in the world. On major tourism websites, no information on Burundi can be found, and a long-term tourist warning is displayed: "The situation in Burundi is still very dangerous, it is strongly recommended not to go, if you are already in Burundi, it is recommended to leave immediately".
Women, the backbone of rural development in Burundi
Women make up about 55% of the workforce and are at the heart of the country's economy, especially in agriculture, while other industries such as construction have traditionally been dominated by men.
In Burundi, women are the breadwinners of the family and the heart of the economy, working like servants in the fields from morning to night, hardly enjoying a minute of rest from getting up to bed, and having to take care of children and do household chores.
However, the role of Burundian women was largely underestimated and had not received the attention it deserved to this day, and they had to obey the decisions of their husbands, who alone had the right to administer money and own land.
Alcoholism is commonplace among men, and domestic violence is extremely common, forcing women to live in an atmosphere of constant fear that takes a toll on the psychological and mental health of children.
Many Burundian men practice polygamy, it is common for a man to leave his wife and children to live with another woman for a period of time, or even take another woman home to live, and many wives are forced to spend the night outside the house or in the surrounding banana plantations.
Beer is an important drink for Burundian society, which is traditionally brewed with sorghum and bananas, and several people sit around a large wine jug and sip beer with hollow reed straws. This unique habit continues into the younger generation, and it is common to see people drinking beer with straws in bars.
Burundians revere cows, cows are a symbol of happiness, health and prosperity, and the more cattle you have, the higher your social status.