The month of April brings back memories of terror and grief for many living in Burundi. When President Pierre Nkurunziza, who had completed his two terms in office, proposed to present himself as the candidate for a third term, people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds joined forces to protest against this decision.
According to the constitution of Burundi, a candidate cannot take up three terms in office. People opposed this decision of the President, which looked to violate the constitution and the Arusha Accords. As a result, the protestors had to face severe oppression and torture at the hands of the authorities.
It’s been years now since that incident took place in Burundi. But what exactly was that crisis, and how did it ensue? Keep reading to know all the details.
What Started This Long Downward Spiral?
The Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement was adopted in 2000, which brought a wave of hope for a peaceful present in the country. In the past, Burundi has been notorious for its violence-ridden incidents over political matters.
This agreement was hope for the change from the violent past of Burundi into an era of political stability. The period in between saw two peaceful presidential transitions from President Pierre Buyoya to President Domitien Ndayizeye. They both ruled for 18 months each before the power was transferred to Nkurunziza in 2005.
At this point, the political parties were not based on one main ethnic group. Rather they formed multiethnic coalitions. The environment in Burundi was peacefully moving towards inclusion and stability. But this was overridden when in 2015, Nkurunziza refused to step down as the President after completing his two terms in office. This started an era of political and social crisis in Burundi.
The crisis was further instigated when the Hutu nationalist agenda of his ruling party, CNDD-FDD, came to the surface again. Thus, began several months of protests held in the country. There was a failed coup attempt in May 2015 as well. There were targeted killings on an ethnic basis sometimes, military violence, armed rebellions, and more. It was estimated that more than 1700 people have been killed in these violent movements since 2015.
Where Is The Situation Currently Headed?
The authorities have tried to maintain an outward calm image for the UN and international forces, but the situation has been worsening internally. According to the UN reports, there are about 400,000 refugees from Burundi.
However, there has been one change observed in the tactics and strategies of the authorities. Civil torture is no longer carried out in the open like it was done previously. The atrocities are still there, but now they are concealed. If a person is killed in one place, the body is dumped in a completely different place to prevent tracking.
There have been reports of rape, torture, mutilation, and other kinds of abuse taking place regularly at the homes of some of the senior officials in the military. Mass graves have been found in different areas of Burundi, and instances of disappearances have increased significantly since 2015.
Is There A Solution To The Burundi Crisis?
Despite the authorities’ attempts at concealment, the crisis in Burundi is going strong. To take control of the situation, external powers will have to mediate, given the high amount of distrust internally. The election process needs to be made free and fair for the people once again.
This crisis started internally, and it can be resolved too. There is a framework in the name of the Arusha Accords already in place. The only thing left is to make the domestic parties reach a consensus.