Burundi Renames National Landmarks

The President of Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza has renamed several national landmarks in the country. He made the announcement during the independence day speech on July 1.

The national stadium located in Bujumbura will now be known as Heroes Stadium, having formerly been called the Prince Louis Rwagasore Stadium after the country’s first prime minister. Rwagasore was assassinated before Burundi achieved independence in 1962.

The new presidential palace has been named after King Ntare Rushatsi, the founder of the Burundi kingdom in the 1500s.

Bujumbura International Airport will be named Merchior Ndadaye in memory of Burundi’s first democratically elected president. Ndadaye’s assassination in 1993 preceded a wave of violence in which 300,000 lost their lives.  

The move has prompted criticism from some quarters that say the renaming is a political move that could be seen as seeking to marginalise the Tutsi community. However, the President defended the decision stating, "This move is also to remove names that emerge from betrayal and bad behaviour brought in by colonialism.”