The capital of Burundi is Gitega. Gitega is located in the central province of Burundi, about 40 miles (65 km) east of the former capital, Bujumbura. It was initially the seat of the Burundian monarchy, where the Mwami (king) resided, lending it a strong cultural significance that continues to this day. The city’s past is intrinsically tied to the Kingdom of Burundi, which existed until the late 19th century when European powers began their colonization of Africa. After gaining independence from Belgium in 1962, Bujumbura remained the capital of the new Republic of Burundi. However, the Burundian government announced in 2007 a plan to return the capital to Gitega to fulfill the promise made at the time of independence and to decentralize power. This plan took over a decade to implement, but in December 2018, President Pierre Nkurunziza signed a decree making Gitega the country’s political capital.