Burundi
May 23, 2007
Burundi is a small country in the Great Lakes region of Africa. Although the people of Burundi are beautiful, the country has faced great economic hardship and has a long history of violence.
The adoption authority in Burundi is the Central Authority in the Ministry of Social Action. All intercountry adoption cases are approved by the Ministry and then must also be approved by the County Court. At this time Burundi will only approve adoptions from countries that have ratified the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption. For U.S. citizens, this will open up the door for adoptions from Burundi in late 2007.
There are no known adoption agencies working in Burundi, however, orphans are cared for by independent organizations. An adoption can take place through an attorney and by the submission of appropriate paperwork.
Parents Requirements:
Married couples who have a healthy marriage of five or more years
Parents should be at least thirty years of age, however a waiver may be submitted
Through paperwork, prospective parents must be able to demonstrate good mental health, financial security, and physical health needed to care for a child.
Time frame: Once a child is declared a legal orphan and the appropriate paperwork has been submitted the adoption process takes an estimated 3-6 months.
Children Available: In Burundi, orphan children reside in private orphanages where they receive basic care. The orphanages have children of all ages.
A list of English-speaking attorneys in Burundi is available through the U.S. State Department embassy consular section.
