Background

Burundi has had a long history of ethnic conflict and political instability ever since the country gained its independence from Belgium in 1962. The two main ethnic groups involved in the conflict – the politically influential Tutsi minority, and the less-affluent Hutu majority – have long had issues of mistrust, bitter rivalry, and violent tension.

In 1991, the leader of the Tutsi-dominated military government, Major Pierre Buyoya, approved a Constitution that provided for a president, multi-ethnic government, and a parliament. Burundi's first Hutu president, Melchior Ndadaye, took office in June 1993, but was assassinated in October 1993 by members of the military. He was succeeded in January 1994 by another Hutu leader, Cyprien Ntayamira.  In April 1994, however, Ntayamira was killed in a plane crash along with Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana. The violence that followed resulted in huge losses of life, with an estimated 250,000 individuals killed in 1993-1994 alone, and with roughly the same number displaced as refugees.  The civil war continued for the next seven years.

In 1996, Pierre Buyoya returned to power through a violent military coup. International mediation efforts led by Julius Nyerere of Tanzania and later Nelson Mandela of South Africa led to the August 2000 signing of the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Accord, which laid the groundwork for the reconciliation process and ceasefire agreements. After a short period, Buyoya stepped down in favor of a power-sharing transitional government in November 2001. The new government signed a new ceasefire agreement with the Forces for the Defense of Democracy (FDD) in 2003, and in 2004, the Forces for National Liberation (FNL) – the last remaining active rebel faction – declared a unilateral ceasefire. The leaders of those groups were subsequently incorporated into the Burundian transitional government.  In spite of this progress, the FDD withdrew from the transitional government in May 2004, citing that it had unequal representation; yet it maintained, that the group would not return to violent tactics.

Following the signing of the Arusha Agreement, the African Union deployed a 2,870 strong AU peacekeeping force into Burundi, composed mostly of personnel from South Africa, Ethiopia, and Mozambique. The AU mission was financially supported by the United States and the European Union. On 1 June 2004, with a final peace agreement seemingly within reach, the UN Mission in Burundi took over AMIB’s operations under a Chapter VII mandate.

UN Security Council Resolution 1545 outlines the duties of ONUB including the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of local militias and rebel groups; monitoring cross-border illegal arms trade; overall operational coordination with the neighboring UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC); creating a safe environment for refugees, and supporting a democratic transition with respect to human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Elections for an interim government were initially scheduled to be held by 31 October 2004. However, continuing disagreement over power-sharing arrangements in that government delayed voting on both a new constitution and government.  In addition, the electoral commission repeatedly pushed back the voting dates, citing technical problems.  The constitutional referendum was finally held on 28 February 2005, and local elections followed in June, with national assembly elections then held in July.  As spelled out in the interim constitution, senators were then chosen by the local councilors and the president was chosen by the full legislature in August.    

In light of the progress made in the peace process, the Government of Burundi has requested a phased withdrawal of ONUB, which began in December 2005.  According to agreements between the UN Secretariat and the Government of Burundi, ONUB should fully withdraw by December 2006.

As of February 2006, ONUB consisted of 4,656 uniformed personnel from forty-five countries, including 4,396 troops, 87 police and 173 military observers.  ONUB’s current mandate expires on 1 July 2006.  Even as the mission’s withdrawal begins, ONUB maintains a strong presence in Burundi’s western provinces, where FNL fighters are still active. 

Links

African Union (AU)
UN Mission in Burundi