Gitega (formerly Kitega) is the capital and one of the largest cities in Burundi.[1] Located in the centre of the country, in the Burundian central plateau[2] roughly 62 kilometres (39 mi) east by south of Bujumbura (the former capital and largest city), Gitega was the seat of the Kingdom of Burundi until its abolition in 1966.[3][note 1] In late December 2018, Burundian president Pierre Nkurunziza announced that he would follow on a 2007 promise to return Gitega its former political capital status,[3] with Bujumbura remaining as economical capital and centre of commerce.[4] A vote in the Parliament of Burundi made the change official on 16 January 2019, with all branches of government expected to move in over three years.[5] (Read more...)
The vote took place on Wednesday and the leader of parliament said the move would take place over three years.