This post begins a weekly issue-related blog submission by our Advocacy Intern, Erin Schmidt. Erin is a graduate student at Webster University. 

For the 1^st time in more than 15 years, it is looking as though peace in the small African nation of Burundi is possible. The gunfire has stopped, areas that have been closed for many years are now open and the people of Burundi are beginning to really think that peace is possible. The ongoing civil war in the region appears to be ending. The cease-fire agreement that was signed in late May 2008 is remaining intact, and the last of the rebel groups has agreed to come to the negotiating table. All the rebel leaders are currently assembled in the capital of Bujumbura.

 

Burundi, a country of 8.7 million people, has seen its civil overshadowed by conflicts in the Congo and Rwanda.  The conflict in Burundi had been brewing for years but it boiled over in 1993 when there was a coup by mostly Tutsi army officers who assassinated the country’s first Hutu president. The coup led to open warfare and over 200,000 people were killed with countless other being victims of violent acts. Despite election held in 2005, where the Burundians chose a Hutu government, the National Liberation Forces continued to fight and inflict violence (see Burundi and Rebels Break Impasse  for more information).

 

The next step in the peace process will involve the continued holding of the cease fire along with getting the remaining rebel fighters to disarm and integrate into the Burundian National Army. The number of rebel troops remaining is said to be 3,000 according the government and 15,000 is the number given from the rebel groups, many of the young fighters often wonder what exactly they are fighting over anyway. There have been failed peace agreements before but this time many are thinking that peace in the region is actually becoming a possibility.

The International Institute currently assists recent refugees from Burundi. If you would like more information on the crisis in

Burundi or for information on how you can help please access any of the following sites:

  http://www.theirc.org/?gclid=CLn5gP_g-ZMCFRghnAodGDW3Ww

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1068873.stm 

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2821.htm

http://globalpolicy.igc.org/security/sanction/indexbur.htm          Information taken from UN Wire Article from the NY Times on 16 June 2008

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 17th, 2008 at 7:49 am and is filed under Refugees. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.