Burundi

Burundi military

Index
1. Order of battle
2. Overview
3. Defence economics
4. State of military forces
5. Burundi threat report
6. External deployments

1. Order of Battle

Total force strength	Army: 20 000 (restructuring process is continuing) Air Wing: 200 Reserves: 10 Battalions (Reported, battalion size is unknown) Paramilitary: 31 000 Local Defence Militia: 30 000 (Estimated) Total: 81 200
Army
Reconnaissance	6: AML-60 12: AML-90 30: BDRM-2 7: S52 Shorland
APC	10: BTR-80 20: BTR-40 9: M-3 Panhard 12: RG-31 Nyala 6: Walid
Towed artillery	18: D-30 122 mm
Multiple Rocket Launcher	12: BM-21 122 mm
Mortar	15: 82 mm M-43 75: 120 mm
Anti-armour	Milan (Reported)
Recoilless rifle	60: Type-52 (M-20)
Rocket launcher	?: RL-83 Blindicide (Reported)
Air defence gun	15: ZPU-4 14.5mm 135: ZU-23 23mm
Air defence missile	30: SA-7 Strela-2
Structure Lightly armed Infantry Artillery Engineers Air Defence	2 battalions 7 battalions and some independent companies 1 battalion 1 battalion 1 battalion
Air Wing
Trainer aircraft	2: SF-260 TP/SF/W Warrior
Transport aircraft	2: Cessna 150L 2: DC-3
Combat helicopter	2: Mi-24 Hind
Transport helicopter	3: SA-316B Alouette III 2: SA-342L Gazelle 4: Mi-8 Hip (Considered to be non operational)
Marine Police
Boats	2: Rigid Raiders

2. Overview:
Defence Minister: Major General Pontien Gaciyubwenge
Chief of General Staff: Major General Prime Niyongabo

Member of: UN, AU, EAC
3. Burundi defence economics
Defence budget percentage per GDP (2000-2008)

	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
DB% per GDP	6.0	8.0	7.2	7.3	6.6	6.2	4.9	4.7	3.8

Defence budget per US$ Mil (2000-2008)

	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
DB per US$ Mil	57.9	57.1	62.0	63.0	74.9	78.2	84.2	104	113

Defence budget percentage growth (2000-2008)

	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
DB% growth		-1.4	8.6	1.6	18.9	4.4	7.7	23.5	8.7

4. State of military forces

Burundi’s military was restructured between 2004 and 2009 following the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement and the end of the 1993-2003 civil war. The military is required to have a 50/50 ethnic mix of Tusis and Hutus, including former rebels (until the 2001-2005 transition, the army had been dominated by Tutsis). The new National Defence Forces (FDN) are projected to number around 30 000 members. There is also a 20 000 strong National Police force.

Although Burundi is landlocked, it has a small naval component that monitors its 175 km of shoreline along Lake Tanganyika.

Burundi’s defence budget is relatively high in terms of % of GDP but in numerical terms is small as the country’s GDP is only $3.397 billion and per capital GDP $300. This means that little money is available for procurement and the serviceability of much of the military’s heavy equipment and aircraft is questionable.
5. Burundi threat report

Threat type	Overview
External	• Burundi is currently facing no external military threat. • Due to Burundi’s military presence in Somalia the country could be targeted by Islamic extremists.
Internal	• Internal instability is a possibility due to ethnic tensions lingering between the ruling Hutu majority and Tutsi minority.
Regional	• Instability within the DRC could affect Burundi’s foreign security policy design.
Political	• Political tension still lingers within Burundi due to its now finished civil war.
Economic	• Agriculture accounts for 57% of Burundi’s economy and supports more than 70% of the country’s labour force. Instability within this sector could lead to political instability.