Transport in Burundi
Encyclopedia
There are a number of systems of transport in Burundi, including road and water-based infrastructure, the latter of which makes use of Lake Tanganyika
. Furthermore, there are also some airports in Burundi
.
A great hindrance to Burundi’s economic development is lack of adequate transportation. The country is landlocked, and there are currently no railways in Burundi.
is used for transport, with the major port
on the lake being Bujumbura
. Most freight is transported down waterways.
s, of which one has paved runway
s, whose length exceeds 3,047m. The main airport in the country is Bujumbura International Airport
.
, which operates domestic service and flies to Rwanda
, Tanzania
, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. International service is also provided by Air Zaïre
, Sabena, and other airlines. As of 2004, there were an estimated eight airports in
Burundi, of which the international airport in Bujumbura (as of 2005) was the country’s primary and only paved airport. There are also a number of helicopter landing strips. In 1997, 11,000 passengers travelled on international and domestic flights.
A Chinese
study in August 2006 resulted in a promise to construct a railway starting at the existing Tanzania
n railway network, connecting at Isaka
, running via Kigali
in Rwanda
, through to Burundi. Tanzanian railways use metre gauge
, although TAZARA and other neighbouring countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(DRC) use the Cape gauge
, leading to some potential difficulties.
Another project was launched in the same year, which aims to link Burundi and Rwanda (which also has no railways) to the DRC and Zambia
, and therefore to the rest of Southern Africa. At a meeting to inaugurate the Northern Corridor Transit Coordination Authority
(NCTCA), the governments of Uganda and Burundi backed the proposed new railway from the Ugandan western railhead
at Kasese
into the DRC.
Additionally, Burundi has been added to a planned railway project to connect Tanzania and Rwanda.
Lake Tanganyika
Lake Tanganyika is an African Great Lake. It is estimated to be the second largest freshwater lake in the world by volume, and the second deepest, after Lake Baikal in Siberia; it is also the world's longest freshwater lake...
. Furthermore, there are also some airports in Burundi
Burundi
Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
.
A great hindrance to Burundi’s economic development is lack of adequate transportation. The country is landlocked, and there are currently no railways in Burundi.
Roads
Roads total 12322 kilometres (7,656.6 mi) as of 2004, and only about 7 percent of them remain open in all weather; the rest are classed as local roads or tracks. In 2003, there were 24,000 passenger cars and 23,500 commercial vehicles.Waterways
Lake TanganyikaLake Tanganyika
Lake Tanganyika is an African Great Lake. It is estimated to be the second largest freshwater lake in the world by volume, and the second deepest, after Lake Baikal in Siberia; it is also the world's longest freshwater lake...
is used for transport, with the major port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
on the lake being Bujumbura
Bujumbura
-Education:The University of Burundi is located in Bujumbura.Hope Africa University is located in BujumburaUniversité du Lac Tanganyika is located in Bujumbura-External links:**...
. Most freight is transported down waterways.
Airports
Burundi possesses eight airportAirport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
s, of which one has paved runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
s, whose length exceeds 3,047m. The main airport in the country is Bujumbura International Airport
Bujumbura International Airport
Bujumbura International Airport is an airport in Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi.In 2008, the airport served 120,000 passengers.-Airlines and destinations:-Cargo airlines:...
.
Air Service
Air service is maintained by Air BurundiAir Burundi
Air Burundi is the state owned national airline of Burundi. It maintains its headquarters in Bujumbura.-Overview:The airline operated scheduled regional passenger services to Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Its main base was Bujumbura International Airport. It ceased operations in the spring of 2007....
, which operates domestic service and flies to Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. International service is also provided by Air Zaïre
Air Zaïre
Air Zaïre was the national airline of the African nation of Zaire. Its head office was located on the grounds of N'djili Airport in Kinshasa.-Air Congo:...
, Sabena, and other airlines. As of 2004, there were an estimated eight airports in
Burundi, of which the international airport in Bujumbura (as of 2005) was the country’s primary and only paved airport. There are also a number of helicopter landing strips. In 1997, 11,000 passengers travelled on international and domestic flights.
Railways
Burundi does not possess any railway infrastructure, although there are proposals to connect Burundi to its neighbours via railway.A Chinese
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
study in August 2006 resulted in a promise to construct a railway starting at the existing Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
n railway network, connecting at Isaka
Isaka
Isaka is a small town and station on the Mwanza railway line of Tanzania which connects to the seaport of Dar es Salaam. In the 1980s a so-called dry port was established there to serve the landlocked countries of Burundi and Rwanda, since Isaka is on a highway, now paved, running 610 km from...
, running via Kigali
Kigali
Kigali, population 965,398 , is the capital and largest city of Rwanda. It is situated near the geographic centre of the nation, and has been the economic, cultural, and transport hub of Rwanda since it became capital at independence in 1962. The main residence and offices of the President of...
in Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, through to Burundi. Tanzanian railways use metre gauge
Metre gauge
Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland...
, although TAZARA and other neighbouring countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
(DRC) use the Cape gauge
Cape gauge
Cape gauge is a track gauge of between the inside of the rail heads and is classified as narrow gauge. It has installations of around .The gauge was first used by Norwegian engineer Carl Abraham Pihl and the first line was opened in 1862.- Nomenclature :...
, leading to some potential difficulties.
Another project was launched in the same year, which aims to link Burundi and Rwanda (which also has no railways) to the DRC and Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
, and therefore to the rest of Southern Africa. At a meeting to inaugurate the Northern Corridor Transit Coordination Authority
Northern Corridor Transit Coordination Authority
The Northern Corridor Transit Coordination Authority is an intergovenmental body in Central Africa tasked with the job of coordinating transport infrastructure improvements.One of its proposals is to build railways to landlocked Burundi and Rwanda....
(NCTCA), the governments of Uganda and Burundi backed the proposed new railway from the Ugandan western railhead
Railhead
The word railhead is a railway term with two distinct meanings, depending upon its context.Sometimes, particularly in the context of modern freight terminals, the word is used to denote a terminus of a railway line, especially if the line is not yet finished, or if the terminus interfaces with...
at Kasese
Kasese
Kasese is a town in Western Uganda, lying north of Lake George. It originally grew around the copper mine at Kilembe, while attention later turned to cobalt mining. It is the 'chief town' of Kasese District and the district headquarters are located there...
into the DRC.
Additionally, Burundi has been added to a planned railway project to connect Tanzania and Rwanda.