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BURUNDI
>> AFR Regional Overview >> Burundi Overview
Development Challenge Summary Tables
Program Summary
46
Introduction
War engulfs two of the three countries of the Great Lakes Region of Central Africa; Burundi is one of these countries. As a result, a humanitarian emergency exists. Burundi is pivotal to reestablishing peace in the Great Lakes region of East Africa. The conflict between the Hutu and Tutsi communities has caused massive displacement within Burundi and into neighboring countries. A three-year drought which extended into 2000 affected 700,000 people and caused near-famine conditions in parts of the country. The Arusha Peace Accord, brokered by Nelson Mandela and signed in August 2000, failed to secure a cease-fire and to identify a transitional government acceptable to all parties. All these conditions make Burundi a flashpoint that could potentially wreak havoc in East Africa, if not addressed.
Humanitarian response is the priority U.S. interest in Burundi, followed by the promotion of democracy, human rights, and health, especially combating HIV/AIDs and childhood diseases. In addition, the United States seeks to foster greater peace, reconciliation and economic development while supporting the Arusha peace process. The United States cannot solve Burundi's problems. Nonetheless the U.S. Government (USG) assistance program can assist Burundians trying to lessen the conflict, build bridges between Hutus and Tutsis, and encourage democracy as a means to ending ethnic strife. At the same time, targeted humanitarian relief, including food aid, will help the most vulnerable communities affected by conflict and drought. If a genuine cease-fire takes hold, the USG assistance program can expand to address the fundamental inequalities in Burundi that impoverish the population and feed the cycle of conflict and violence.
The Development Challenge
The immediate and pressing challenge is to end the armed conflict in Burundi. Major problems are the lack of consensus on candidates to lead the transition, lack of agreement on a cease-fire, and the unwillingness of the two main Hutu rebel groups to join the Arusha process. Such problems make it difficult for Burundian civil activists, caught between armed factions in an 'all or nothing' political atmosphere, to open conduits of communication among communities, to advocate equal status under law and to protect free media voices. The climate of insecurity spurs families to flee the fighting and join the ranks of the internally displaced. Fear of attacks on overland transit restricts passenger traffic and makes it difficult and expensive to transport produce to the marketplace. The intermittent suspension of commercial air traffic disrupts internal and international travel and airfreight. Consumer prices for imported goods, including construction materials to repair war damage, fuel, and pharmaceuticals have skyrocketed due to increased transport and insurance costs. Civil liberties are eroding. As siege mentality increases, the authorities threaten, detain, or harass members of the press and civic activists.
Inadequate harvests over the past three seasons caused by conflict and drought, coupled with a malaria epidemic, have contributed to severe malnutrition in several provinces. The decreasing availability of arable soil, and unresolved land tenure disputes associated with displaced people and inheritance rights, spark rural clashes. The reliance of some 85% of the population on subsistence farming underscores the need to make farming more productive through improved technology and the availability of other inputs. It also highlights the need to diversify the economy through sub-regional trading links and, in the near future, if peace comes, to create jobs for demobilized combatants.
The HIV/AIDS epidemic is spreading in the countryside where basic prevention practices and condoms are not yet part of daily life. The potential for demobilized combatants to bring the scourge of AIDS to their home villages makes it imperative to create or expand prevention programs throughout the nation and to target educational efforts to military and militia personnel.
Relations between the capital and the majority of the population in the interior reflect a fundamental imbalance in the distribution of state resources. While entire provinces are cut off from paved roads, the government continues to increase the number and salaries of civil servants in Bujumbura. When the bill for the latest round of fighting comes due, the government will likely increase taxes and other forms of extraction from rural communities.
Well-focused civic development programs can have a significant impact in this sensitive environment. Programs which are able to build communication across the ethnic and economic demarcation lines can strike a responsive chord in the wider society. Initial exchanges and mutual assistance activities can prepare the ground for deeper understanding among vulnerable groups. Those who have been trained in conflict mediation techniques have been able to defuse violent situations and create openings for political dialogue with their adversaries. Looking to the future, implementation of a genuine cease-fire and peace accord will remain dependent on support from experienced civic activists who must prepare the ground and breathe life into the sails of reconciliation.
Other Donors
At the December 2000 Paris Conference, the United States pledged $70 million and other donors pledged $370 million to assist implementation of a solid peace accord, support a peaceful political transition, and revitalize the economy. These figures include some current commitments and ongoing programs, and are generally conditioned on implementation of the Arusha agreement and other reforms. Among other bilateral donors, Belgium pledged $24 million, including $4.5 million for reintegration. France will provide $7 million for legal training, health, and HIV/AIDS testing laboratories, and recently disbursed the first tranche (20%) of this pledge. Germany pledges $23 million in undisbursed funds leftover from previous projects. Norway pledged $6 million for FY 2001 for governance, HIV/AIDS and debt relief. Canada will provide $6 million in humanitarian assistance.
The World Bank's Interim Strategy encourages small-scale employment generation. The Bank and the Government of Burundi (GOB) have signed a $40 million labor-intensive urban improvement project and a $35 million credit for emergency social services. Other components of the program are $20 million for social rehabilitation, of which $2 million is to support refugee returns. The Bank has held initial meetings on demobilization, but the plan for this crucial activity is still in the formulation stage. The IMF is planning a $25 million loan and an Emergency Transition Fund that will include resources for the reintegration of combatants. The United Nations plans to contribute $70 million. Its major program of assistance for the reintegration of refugees and internally displaced persons is the Community Assistance Umbrella Program, budgeted at almost $12 million. An additional $15 million is programmed for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) for refugee returns.
FY 2002 Program
The USG's support for the establishment of peace in Burundi is founded on continuing the Arusha peace process with regional engagement while encouraging dialogue at home. At the same time, the USG continues to provide humanitarian relief to vulnerable populations, which include some 500,000 refugees, 400,000 displaced persons and 700,000 victims of the 2000 drought. It is expected that food and emergency assistance will remain consistent with FY 2000 levels.
The USAID program is designed to help correct the imbalance between the past concentration of resources in Bujumbura and the poverty in the countryside. It aims to restore a measure of confidence to Burundians through support for mediation efforts, peace and reconciliation groups, independent media and civic/legal advocacy training, fostering of community participation through agriculture and food security programs, and improving health services, including fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Non-food assistance will promote the expansion of civil society, justice system improvement, and agricultural production in specific provinces. USAID activities are making progress in promoting independent media and empowering civic and legal advocates who are creating openings for political dialogue involving reconciliation and conflict mediation. Assistance especially targeted to women and women's groups is aimed at increasing their participation in national dialogue, promoting reconciliation between women of different ethnicity, and improving their legal status. U.S. humanitarian assistance will continue to ameliorate the quality of life for the most vulnerable groups in society.
Activity Data Sheets
- 695-005, Foundation for a Peaceful Transition in Burundi Established
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Last Updated on: May 29, 2002 |
