Burundi

International Alert’s peacebuilding work in Burundi aims to promote peaceful coexistence and address both the legacies of past violence and current drivers of tension. We place particular emphasis on women and young people, who are both disproportionately affected by conflict and play a critical role in sustaining peace.

We create structured dialogue spaces that bring together individuals and groups with different experiences of conflict. This approach enables them to rebuild trust, work through grievances and strengthen relationships within and between their communities. These processes focus on encouraging non-violent ways of engaging with different opinions and disagreement, especially among youth, and building more constructive relationships between citizens and authorities.

We work closely with local and national institutions to strengthen inclusive governance and support mechanisms that reduce conflict risk. This includes facilitating dialogue between communities and authorities, and contributing to local development that considers people’s needs and conflict dynamics.

At the regional level, we address how gender inequality, conflict, and economic vulnerability intersect –particularly in cross-border trade. Women traders play a critical role in local economies, yet face structural barriers and higher risks. Our work supports more conflict-sensitive and inclusive approaches to cross-border economic activity, contributing to both livelihoods and stability.

We also work with government partners to identify gaps in how regional agreements function in practice, helping improve cross-border systems on the ground.

Understanding conflict context in Burundi

Since gaining independence in 1962, Burundi has faced repeated cycles of political violence, rooted in deep socio-political divisions. Major episodes of mass violence, including the 1972 killings and the civil war following the assassination of the first democratically elected president in 1993, led to many deaths, displacement, and long-term damage to the country’s social fabric. The Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement of 2005 was an important step toward stability and reconstruction, although challenges have persisted since, including during the 2015 political crisis triggered by a disputed presidential election.

Today, Burundi continues to consolidate peace in a context shaped by the legacy of past conflicts, socio-economic pressures, and evolving regional dynamics across the wider Great Lakes. At community level, issues such as trauma, trust, and social cohesion remain important. Economic vulnerability and limited opportunities are also among pressing concerns.

In this context, strengthening dialogue, social cohesion, and inclusive governance remains essential to sustaining long-term peace and stability.

International Alert’s presence and partnerships in Burundi

Since reopening our office in late 2024, we have been establishing a growing presence in Burundi, with a lean and dynamic team driving the development of our programmes. Our team is based in Bujumbura, with activities implemented across key provinces, including border areas, in coordination with regional programmes.

We are working on two ongoing projects together with a range of national and international partners, including government institutions, civil society organisations (CSOs), and regional bodies. These include, among others:

Government partners: the Ministry of Commerce, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Ministry of Interior, Community Development and Public Security, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation;