Burundi - Burundi used to call itself the Switzerland of Africa (a title that was also claimed by neighboring Rwanda). But while it has mountains, the country has known little Swiss-style peace or neutrality, especially in the past few years. The same ethnic tensions between the Hutu and Tutsi that resulted in one of the world's most terrible atrocities in Rwanda in 1994 have been seething in Burundi for decades. The country's ongoing civil war may yet escalate into a similar tragedy. Until the situation changes, travelers would do best to go elsewhere in Africa for mountainous scenery. |
