Burundi

Burundi's history in the 1980s and 1990s

• In the beginning of the 1980s, Burundi had land reform, electoral reform and national reconciliation was stimulated by President Bagaza.
• While the politics changed, President Bagaza led a military coup and the 30-member Supreme Revolutionary Council took over the government.
• In 1987, Maj. Pierre Buyoya made a decision to overthrow the Second Republic and declared the Third Republic.

Religion (1980s-1990s)

• Ethnic tension has affected church-state relations since the 1970s and carried on into the 80s.
• From 1976 to 1987, the government of the Second Republic tried to impose a restriction on social and educational activities of the Roman Catholic Church.
• During the military coup in 1987, the Roman Catholic Church has been seen by many Tutsi while the issue was defused.

Economy and Agriculture (1980s-1990s)

• The late 1990s were rough for both the economy and most of the population living in poverty.
• All of that caused war, low income levels and heavy dependence on foreign aid.
• During the Tutsi-led military coup in 1996, it has affected all of the exports and oil imports.
• The production of coffee and cotton have decreased by less and more than half due to civil strife.
• The economy has decreased causing the nation to become one of the poorest countries while most of the population was living in poverty and under debt.

Politics (1980s-1990s)

• Politics in Burundi have changed starting in 1992 when the Front for Democracy was provided for multiparty politics.
• Unfortunately, the National Council for Defense of Democracy took over politics while later changed to it's offshoot (Forces for the Defense of Democracy).
• In the beginning of the Political Crisis during the early 1990s, the mass violence and massacres led to the outbreak of the civil war that did start in 1993.
• Later the assissination of Burundi Leader Melchior Ndadye lead the Tutsi government committing mass violence against the Hutus.
• It has also lead a campaign of genocide against the Tutsis by the Hutu government and resulted 800,000 deaths.
• Although, the 1994 assassination lead an extension of the Burundi civil war that lasted from 1993-2005 between the Hutus and the Tutsis. The genocide of Burundi also lead to more than 300,000 people who were killed. The population is at risk of not surviving during the Burundi Civil War.

Burundi Civil War (1993-1999)

• In the beginning of the Political Crisis during the early 1990s, the mass violence and massacres led to the outbreak of the civil war that did start in 1993.
• Later the assissination of Burundi Leader Melchior Ndadye lead the Tutsi government committing mass violence against the Hutus.
• It has also lead a campaign of genocide against the Tutsis by the Hutu government and resulted 800,000 deaths.
• Although, the 1994 assassination lead an extension of the Burundi civil war that lasted from 1993-2005 between the Hutus and the Tutsis. The genocide of Burundi also lead to more than 300,000 people who were killed. The population is at risk of not surviving during the Burundi Civil War.
• During the war in 1996, President Pierre Buyoya replaced the Hutu president in a coup that did restore order in the government.
• While President Pierre Buyoya supported the Tutsi side of the war, the major attack from the Hutu rebel group leading to the First Congo War in late 1996 by overthrowing President Mobutu of Zaire.
• It also worried the Rwandan government and elected a new president of Rwanda named Laurent-Desire Kaliba. It also expanded their operations with the CNDD-FDD rebels in 1997.
• Buyoya and the Hutu parliament made an agreement to sign a transitional constitution to end the war. Unfortunately, the war continued after June 15th, 1998.
• The fighting was reduced in 1999 and then continued on with growing the intensity into the early 2000's.

Continuation of the Burundi Civil War

• On April 18, 2001, the Hutu rebels tried to coup against President Buyoya but it did fail. Although the Tutsia tried to resist a peace agreement but the leaders were jailed.
• In 2003, Hutu president Domitien Ndayizeye signed a ceasefire agreement in Tanzania.
• Then the war was finally over in 2005 when president Domitien Ndayizeye signed a law to commence the new national army of Burundi with mostly Tutsi military forces.

History in 2000s-2010s

• Burundi to this day has been a very poor nation with hardly any food, high crime rate, and unsafe living conditions. There has also been a lot of known terrorist attacks in Burundi.
• The current president Pierre Nkurunziza had early history before he was elected as the president of Burundi.
• President Pierre Nkurunziza was born on December 18, 1963 in Ngozi, Burundi.
• Violence was and still one of the national problems when it comes to presidential elections and the extreme poverty level that affects the people.
• Although, the new laws have been signed and passed by the national government in 2011, 2013 and 2015-present.
• Civilization unrest has been the main issue since the start of the Burundian Civil War. It includes mass violence, judicial killings and even election protests leading to riots.
• The majority of election protests happened in Bujumbura, Burundi that started since April 26th, 2015.

Terrorism

• Terrorism is a big problem that has spread hatred throughout Burundi.
• This is also called Burundian Unrest.
• One of the reasons Burundi is going through a state of unrest is because their current president Pierre Nkurunziza has been elected a third term.
• The people were upset and staged uprisings because they felt the election wasn’t right because presidents in Burundi are supposed to only have two terms instead of three.

Today's Culture

• People who follow Burundian traditions will sing ancient songs, perform traditional dances and tell stories about African legends.
• Shepherds who lead the animal back home from the pastures will also sing songs as part of their tradition.
• Also in 1989, the National Library was founded for Burundi's literature and language

Works Cited

• 1980s to 2010s history: https://www.infoplease.com/world/countries/burundi
• https://www.britannica.com/place/Burundi/Cultural-life#ref93633
• https://www.cfr.org/interactive/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/political-...
• https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pierre-Nkurunziza
• Burundi Civil War: http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Burundian_Civil_War