Gitega, formerly known as Kitega, is the political capital of Burundi. Located in the heart of the country on the Burundian central plateau, it lies about 62 kilometres east of Bujumbura. It is Burundi’s fourth-largest city and was once the royal capital of the Kingdom of Burundi until the monarchy was abolished in 1966.
We arrived in Gitega during stormy weather, parked in the town centre, and hired a local guide to show us around for an hour for 10,000 BIF. It was a great way to get a better sense of the city and its atmosphere.
In December 2018, Burundi’s then-president, the late Pierre Nkurunziza, announced that he would fulfil a promise first made in 2007 by restoring Gitega’s status as the country’s political capital. Bujumbura would remain Burundi’s economic and commercial centre. The change was officially approved by the Burundian Parliament on 16 January 2019, with the relocation of government institutions expected to take place over the following three years.
Although the move to Gitega was originally expected to be completed by around 2022, the process remains unfinished. Construction of new government buildings and infrastructure is still ongoing, and progress appears to be slow. As our photos show, the transition is far from complete and may continue for many years to come.
