Burundi makes national language Kirundi official language

Kirundi, a largely spoken national language in Burundi also known as Rundi, has become official language in the African country after leader instructed its use in formal settings.

“In order to promote the use of the national language, from now on, all public meetings and conferences will be conducted in Kirundi,” President Evariste Ndayishimiye said last Sunday.

The leader also indicated that meetings’ minutes and reports will be written in Rundi.

Rundi is a Bantu language spoken by over 90 per cent of the population of the small african country. It also stresses across Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda.

Burundi has so far adopted French, heritage from history, as official language, used in the public administration, education and legislation. The country has also adopted English and Swahili, the two largely spoken languages in the Eastern African Community, after it joined the organization.