Burundi

International Alert has been working in Burundi since 1995, following an invitation from the UN Special Representative to Burundi to support the peace process. Our original focus was on promoting dialogue at the political level in support of the peace process, as well as working with women at the grassroots level.

As Burundi’s peace process has evolved, we have moved towards supporting civil society organisations to mobilise wider engagement in peacebuilding and development. This has included work with local NGOs, the church and women's organisations. In a country where governance has always been at the hands of the elite, based in the capital, it is vital that people at the community level (both men and women) begin to engage in the politics and economics of peace and development. Our key areas of focus at the moment are:

	Research and advocacy on governance – Alert provided the initial support to established what is now often referred to as one of the main representatives of local civil society opinion in Burundi. We continue to accompany this work, providing advice, training and financial support.
	Peacebuilding with women – We have been working with women in Burundi since 1995, in both rural and urban communities and with women politicians. The increasing role of women in public life is an important change that gives cause for hope, but much work remains to be done to achieve equality.
	Stimulating economic enterprise – Alert has entered into a partnership with the Burundi Enterprise Network (BEN, a private business association) to help encourage debate on the future economic development in the country.

The conflict context

Inter-ethnic fear and antagonism
have been widespread in Burundi during the 40 years since independence. The assassination
of the first democratically elected president, a Hutu, in 1993, signalled the start of a civil war that has claimed the lives of over 250,000 people – mostly civilians. At the peak of the crisis almost 1.3 million people were internally displaced or had fled to neighbouring Tanzania and Democratic Republic of Congo as refugees.

There is now cause for cautious optimism. The signing of the Arusha Accord in 2000 was the first step in a political peace process that seems to be bringing some stability. Democratic elections in August 2005 and the establishment of a new government were important milestones for the return to peace. The former rebel group CNDD-FDD won most seats in both local and national elections and its leader, Pierre Nkurunziza, was sworn in as the country’s President on August 26th. Many women voted and stood as candidates and seven out of 20 ministers voted in to the new government wee women. Finally, after many failed negotiations, the government signed a cease-fire agreement with the only remaining rebel force, the FNL, in September 2006.

However, since the elections international and Burundian human rights organisations have reported increasing human rights violations by the government, including extrajudicial killings and the illegal arrest of prominent political leaders, including the former President, on allegations of plotting a coup. Most international donors and agencies allowed the new government a period of grace but some are now starting to speak out more decisively against the new government. There has been a certain amount of tension between the government and the UN peacekeeping mission, ONUB. In August the Burundian government requested the recall of the UN Special Representative in Burundi after he questioned the government's actions over the alleged coup plot. However, generally the relationship seems to have improved following the decision to gradually downsize the UN mission and withdraw completely at the end of 2006.

The new government has shown  a willingness to address key issues such as education and maternal health care; one of the first steps taken by the new president was to declare free primary schooling, which brought hope to the population despite the problems that followed as thousands of new students lined up to enrol. But recent scandals suggest the government is not as committed to tackling corruption as they first claimed. Burundi has qualified for a partial reduction of debt, helping the country to lower its budget deficit, and international donors have pledged significant development support for the country. Burundi is a case study for the newly established UN Peacebuilding Commission, and as such has been recommended for financial support from the Peacebuilding Fund.

The government’s five-year political and economic programme was issued at the end of 2005 and, although comprehensive, it lacks concrete guidelines for implementation that can be translated into sector policies, including a lack of details on the porcess for privatising the coffee sector (a condition of Burundi's debt relief and a necessary reform for sustained economic growth). The costs of the programme and where money will come from were not made clear in the document. There is also concern among civil society organisations about the way that government policy is developed behind closed doors with little if any consultation.

Although demobilisation has begun, the question of the reintegration of ex-combatants into society poses a serious challenge. There are also many weapons in private hands – and the potential for violence remains. Improvements in the general security situation mean that thousands of refugees have been returning to Burundi every day and, whilst this is a positive development, there is still a risk that it will create new sources of conflict and tension, particularly over the return of land and property. If the tens of thousands of people who are returning to their homes, both refugees and ex-combatants, do not have jobs and hope for the future, it is all too easy to foresee a return to political or criminal violence.


For more information, contact Sylvie Pereira

Back to top

Last updated: October 2006