Islam in Burundi

[2] Islam first arrived in Burundi from the East African coast with Arab traders in the late 19th century.

[3] The Arabs were prevented from entering the Kingdom of Burundi by a successful campaign of resistance led by mwami (king) Mwezi IV Gisabo.

[3] The religion declined under Belgian colonial rule (1916–62) as a result of the spread of Christianity (especially Catholicism) and urbanisation which brought non-Muslim Burundians into the cities.

[3] Today the Muslim population is strongly urbanised and focused in Bujumbura, especially in the communes (districts) of Buyenzi and Bwiza, as well as the towns of Gitega, Rumonge, Nyanza, Muyinga, and Makamba.

[3] However, a significant proportion of the community are recent immigrants to the country from West Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Middle East, and Pakistan.