Early warning: Burundi !

There is a country in Africa which, in a few years, has achieved more peace than most formerly war-ravaged countries around the world - much more than Bosnia, Kosovo, Somalia, or Afghanistan. There was a comprehensive ceasefire and a power-sharing among former fighters, tens of thousands of whom have been disarmed and re-socialized. Thanks to peaceful, free and fair elections and a new constitution, it has a democratic government for the first time in its history, and it has leadership and one with many women. Its human rights record has improved markedly.

It has been assisted by a highly competent United Nations mission. It’s economy has begun to pick up and it has become a member of regional economic association. Above all, its people has managed – almost without assistance from abroad - to live together and reached a level of co-operation and reconciliation much more convincing than anywhere in, say, former Yugoslavia.

You probably don’t know which country we talk about - there are media filters against good stories, good stories out of Africa. But in the last few days you may have seen that this country has one last rebel movement which, in the dark nights, throw grenades down on the capital from the mountains. This rebel movement said no to peace when years ago all the others rebel groups said yes.

While it may have good causes and the government could be more flexible, this situation potentially threatens everything that has been achieved.

The country is Burundi. Sadly, no leading media has found Burundi and its remarkable process worthy of a documentary or otherwise cover the good story that is Burundi.

The peace, democracy – indeed, the future - of the 8 million Burundians is now at stake. First, 38 people were killed last week and citizens feel terrorized. Perhaps the Burundian government was a bit too proud when it told the UN to send home its Blue Helmets, but even if this was premature, the international community must not just sit and watch idly now.

The EU in particular should honour its own Constitution, the Treaty of Lisbon, which makes peace in the world its Number One aim and boast a special competence in conflict management. The Burundians have long been waiting for a little evidence that their post-war peace efforts deserves tailor-made and urgent assistance and not just crumbs from the rich club’s table. But Burundi has no oil, minerals or strategic assets…

In routine, uninventive statements, the UN Secretary-General and the Security Council issue condemnations of that rebel group and urge negotiations. It is woefully inadequate given what is at stake. If there is an analytical capacity and early warning, there must now be early understanding and early action.

Second, were that last militant rebel group to succeed in fishing in troubled waters and fan real or rumour-based citizens’ disappointment with the government , the risk is that the whole peace process could be derailed, at least for a period.

Of course, there are still many problems in Burundi; poor people who have been through so much suffering and keep starving are easy prey for those who fish in such waters. The political culture here is still such that people expect the government to do everything for them. These days there is no coordinated civil society response or demonstrations for peace in the streets. People wait and see, hope for a better tomorrow.

Third, Burundi’s population is as big as Sweden’s, or 1/3 of Iraq’s. The average annual income per capita is about US $ 150! Readers in wealthy countries, please think for a few moments of how impressive the above peace achievement are given such a shoestring economy.

It may be a provocative statement to some, but if Burundi sinks into war again, the single most important reason will be the totally inadequate attention by media and governments around the world resulting in far too little assistance: humanitarian assistance, development assistance and peace assistance.

A country coming out of gross human and physical devastation needs almost everything: to accommodate returning refugees, give former fighters attractive employment and a future for its children. After elections, it must meet the basic needs of its people for health care, particularly for women and children, education and social welfare. If the government cannot provide that, the risk is high that former fighters will go back to the killing fields. Widespread ongoing social deprivation will cause instability, political paralysis and disillusion.

To sustain its peace course, Burundi needs international media attention and, with that, much more assistance now. But it has never received a decent international response to the UN’s Annual Appeal for humanitarian aid. Several hundred thousand have been starving for years; many more are suffering from malnutrition. The over-eating world out there excuses itself with the new global food crisis. Sadly, in no single year has the international donor community been willing to meet even 50% of Burundi’s urgent, humanitarian appeals. And it is only about US $ 150 million!

Here is an international community whose leaders talk about military intervention and humanitarian intervention – often in one! – and the “responsibility to protect” human rights, freedom, promote democracy and peace. But it cannot find 20 dollar for each starving child in one of the world’s most hopeful peace processes? But it can provide weapons and ammunition that threatens peace for all 8 million Burundians?

US $ 150 million is equivalent to 8 hours of the U.S. military presence in Iraq. Why can’t we do a hugely good deed and save peace and millions of lives when we can spend so much on killing?

Be sure, that if a new tragedy happens in Africa, the world’s media will be there. That they have not been there and told the story of Burundi’s peace and reconciliation makes the media co-responsible for the increasing war risk. Is that to take it too far? No, the good story must also be a candidate for headlines, the world needs good stories too to encourage hope and change.

Please connect the dots! If leading Western media pay attention, the donor community and governments may recognize Burundi’s needs in time. With attention and assistance, the peace process is likely to succeed and small groups fishing in troubled waters will be marginalised. Therefore: Reward the peace process with peace aid, including intensified mediation help, and stop the arms trade!

And if there is a war, be sure people will say: Oh no, not again, these primitive Hutus and Tutsis, how can they do it again, Africa is a hopeless continent! Few will ask the real question: How could we fail Africa again? Our arms traders never fail warlords. Why do our politicians so systematically fail the world’s peace lords?

Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza pleads to the international community, "We call out to the international community and above all to leaders involved in the regional initiative for peace in Burundi to get to work, to take appropriate measures.”

If we don’t want to see Burundi fall apart – and TFF has warned repeatedly over the last few years about that risk – the time to help is now. Here is what must be done:

- Support the Burundian governments in its visionary efforts by bringing the tiny civilian, economic and humanitarian assistance it so urgently needs.
- Stop every gun and ammunition rounds from getting in.
- Encourage the regional leaders to renew the mediation efforts.
- Strengthen the UN in Burundi, provide mediators and get the UN Peace-building Commission to visit.
- Provide assistance to the Burundian civil society: many and small grants predominantly to the NGOs that work in the countryside.
- Focus on peace education, negotiation, conflict analysis as part of the aid to Burundi’s educational system.
- Strengthen the media and information system so Burundi can be heard.
- Focus on the rural area, women, children and youth – they are the peace agents of the future.

And if – only if - that does not help:

- Begin discussing an impartial, international military force that can disarm the last rebel group and accompany it to the negotiation table.

The global responsibility to protect must include the protection of peace and of 8 million people who deserve to be rewarded for their remarkable maturity and vision.

Listen to Burundi’s cry now! If there ever were a case for civilian humanitarian intervention, this is it and the time is now.


Ina Curic, TFF Coordinator in Burundi
Jan Oberg, TFF director