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Burundi

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1. Overview

Since the Arusha Agreement, signed in Tanzania in August 2000, the peace process instituted in the aftermath of a civil war, that lasted for more than 13 years, has registered significant progress. In November 2003, the main Hutu rebel organization - the Conseil National pour la Défense de la Démocratie – Forces de Défense de la Démocratie (CNDD-FDD), led by Pierre Nkurunziza, joined the process. On 5 August 2005, a power-sharing agreement signed in Pretoria led to the drafting of a constitution that was adopted by referendum in February 2005.

Within the framework of these agreements, municipal, legislative, senatorial and presidential elections were held between March and August 2005, in the presence of international observers from the European Union, the African Union and the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie. Following the elections, which gave a broad victory to the CNDD-FDD, Pierre Nkurunziza was elected President of the Burundian Republic.

Recent years have seen the end of the conflict between the army dominated by the Tutsi and the Hutu movement of National Forces of Liberation Forces (FNL). The FNL turned into a political party. They have also released their prisoners and children who were associated with the movement’s military activity.

New presidential, parliamentary and local elections took place from June to September 2010. Although the conduct of these elections was generally considered satisfactory by all observers, both domestic and international, opposition, well ahead in Bujumbura with over 70% of the vote in local elections, but highly disappointed with its defeat in the provinces, has consolidated, with the notable exception of Uprona, in an alliance of circumstance (CDA Ikibiri) to contest the election. President Nkurunziza has finally been re-elected since the opposition boycotted all elections after the local elections of 24 May 2010.

Moreover, much progress remains to be made, particularly with regard to human rights. While Burundi abolished the death penalty in April 2009, the criminalization of homosexuality, the murder of albinos, and delays in the establishment of a transitional justice system are areas of concern to the UN. The Secretary-General has also urged greater freedom of expression, particularly for opposition parties.

During summer 2011, Burundi’s security situation has turned sour, as attacks by small armed groups multiplied. These attacks first targeted the regions of rural Bujumbura, Citiboke and Bubanza and later spread over most of the territory. The government launched a coordination process with the two neighour countries Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda to thwart the resurgence of an armed rebellion in the DRC.

Concerns on the political situation added to the deterioration of the security context. For months, the international community encouraged Burundi’s authorities and the extra-parliamentary opposition to engage in dialogue. The First Vice-President of the Republic invited all the registered political parties to an “information, dialogue and consultation meeting” on 25 July 2011. None of the parties from the CDA-Ibkiri participated.

On 18 September 2011, Burundi was struck by a major terrorist attack in Gatumba, in the outskirts of Bujumbura, which killed near forty people. The government declared that “all the measures to improve the security of the stricken populations” would be taken during the investigation. It forbid the media to publish, comment or analyze any news related to the investigation.

On 7 November 2011, the Security Council met to hear the report by Mrs Karin Landgren, Special Representative of the Secretary General in Burundi, on BNUB’s activities and the situation in the country.

Mrs Landgren depicted an overall calm security situation, and underscored the progress made regarding transitional justice. However, steps had yet to be taken by the government to strengthen the judiciary system and put an end to the extra judiciary killings. She commended Burundi’s action towards peace within AMISOM despite the internal challenges the country had to face.

Mr. Paul Seger, Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission’s Burundi Configuration depicted a context of extreme poverty in the country, informing the Council that the Peacebuilding Commission would focus on supporting the government’s strategy to fight poverty, while calling for intensified efforts from Burundi regarding governance, national dialogue and freedom of the media.

On 20 December 2011, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2027

On 13 February 2013, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2090 renewing the mandate of BNUB for one year.

UN presence

The UN strongly backed the peace process in Burundi. This commitment translated notably into the creation of the UN Operation in Burundi (ONUB) on 21 May 2004, by resolution 1545, whose mission is to “support and help to implement the efforts undertaken by Burundians to restore lasting peace and bring about national reconciliation, as provided under the Arusha Agreement.” The ONUB mandate included the following principal objectives:

- to ensure the respect of ceasefire agreements

- to promote the re-establishment of confidence between the Burundian forces present

- to carry out the disarmament and demobilization portions of the national program of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of combatants

- to monitor, to the extent possible, the illegal flow of arms across the national borders

- to contribute to the creation of the necessary security conditions for the provision of humanitarian assistance, and facilitate the voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons

- to contribute to the successful completion of the electoral process stipulated in the Arusha Agreement

- to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence.

United Nations Operation in Burundi Disarms Rebel Forces -03 February 2005 -UN Photo/Martine Perret

On 31 December 2006, the ONUB ended its mandate and was replaced by a new mission, the United Nations Integrated Office in Burundi (BINUB), established by resolution 1719 of 25 October 2006. It is to focus on the following points:

- the consolidation of peace and establishment of democratic governance

- disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, and security sector reform

- the promotion and defense of human rights and the fight against impunity

- the coordination of donors and UN agencies.

BINUB’s mandate was extended until 31 December 2010 by resolution 1902 of 17 December 2009. BINUB pays special attention to the support of the electoral process, to democratic governance, to the consolidation of peace, to sustainable reintegration and gender issues.

The Security Council decided in December 2010 to replace BINUB by a United Nations Office in Burundi (BNUB), of smaller size, for an initial period of twelve months until 31 December 2011, to assist the Government of Burundi in consolidating peace, supporting governance, protecting human rights and supporting development in Burundi (resolution 1959 of 16 December 2010).

France supports the positive progress made in the peace process in Burundi, but many challenges remain, particularly in the socio-economic and human rights. The Commission for the Consolidation of Peace has played a key role in this process (see the page devoted to the PBC on this website).

On 5 July 2012, the Security Council heard the briefings of Mrs Landgren, Special Representative of the Secretary General in Burundi, and Mr Seger, Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission’s Burundi Configuration.

Since November 2011, the government of Burundi had taken concrete measures on governance; fight against corruption and against poverty. The political situation had stabilized and the contacts between the government and the extra-parliamentary groups were positive. However, Mrs Landgren expressed her concern over the pressure put on the opposition groups and deplored that a few number of extrajudicial executions had been prosecuted. The socio-economic conditions also remained a destabilizing factor.

In closed consultations, the representative of France noted the institutional progresses but encouraged the government of Burundi to pursue its efforts in terms of transitional justice.

(July 2012)