Burundi

List of Burundi articles

A man hangs a Burundian flag on the lead bus transporting repatriated refugees arriving at the Gisuru border crossing on Oct. 3, 2019 in Ruyigi, Burundi.
A man hangs a Burundian flag on the lead bus transporting repatriated refugees arriving at the Gisuru border crossing on Oct. 3, 2019 in Ruyigi, Burundi.

Kicking Refugees Out Makes Everyone Less Safe

Tanzania is pushing Burundian refugees out—and endangering the region’s stability.

Burundi's national flag is set at half-mast at the state house as Burundi mourns the death of Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza, in Bujumbura on June 10.
Burundi's national flag is set at half-mast at the state house as Burundi mourns the death of Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza, in Bujumbura on June 10.

Will Burundi’s New President Seize the Moment?

The sudden death of the outgoing president, the coronavirus pandemic, and an ailing economy mean that wide-ranging reforms are needed more than ever.

Nzeyimana Consolate arrives carrying her baby at the Nyabitara transit site, among other Burundian refugees, on Oct. 3, 2019 in Ruyigi, Burundi. Nearly 600 Burundians who fled political violence in their home country to Tanzania were repatriated voluntarily, the U.N. refugee agency  said.
Nzeyimana Consolate arrives carrying her baby at the Nyabitara transit site, among other Burundian refugees, on Oct. 3, 2019 in Ruyigi, Burundi. Nearly 600 Burundians who fled political violence in their home country to Tanzania were repatriated voluntarily, the U.N. refugee agency said.

Sending Refugees Back Makes the World More Dangerous

Repatriating refugees to dangerous countries violates international law and breeds conflict, instability, and future crises. Regional work visas and long-term integration into host countries are more promising solutions.

Document of the Week: Nixon’s Little-Known Crusade Against Genocide in Burundi

A 1972 memo downplaying the slaughter of Hutus in Burundi stirred an angry scrawled response from the president.

Burundian families who fled their country, wait to be registered as refuges at Nyarugusu camp in north west of Tanzania on June 11, 2015. Since the beginning of the Burundian crisis at the end of April, more than 100,000 Burundian - among them children - have fled their country mostly to neighbouring Tanzania. AFP PHOTO/STEPHANIE AGLIETTI        (Photo credit should read STEPHANIE AGLIETTI/AFP/Getty Images)
Burundian families who fled their country, wait to be registered as refuges at Nyarugusu camp in north west of Tanzania on June 11, 2015. Since the beginning of the Burundian crisis at the end of April, more than 100,000 Burundian - among them children - have fled their country mostly to neighbouring Tanzania. AFP PHOTO/STEPHANIE AGLIETTI (Photo credit should read STEPHANIE AGLIETTI/AFP/Getty Images)

Fleeing Burundi Won’t Protect You From Its Government

A Burundian militia is crossing borders to terrorize refugees and infiltrate the aid agencies that are supposed to protect them.

Members of Burundi's National Assembly raise their arm to vote on October 12, 2016 in Bujumbura, for the withdrawal of the International Criminal Court (ICC) from the capital, after the UN began an enquiry into human rights abuses in the turbulent nation.
The draft law was passed with 94 votes in favour, two against and 14 abstentions. It will next go to the Senate -- also dominated by the ruling party -- before being approved by President Pierre Nkurunziza. In April, ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said she was conducting a "preliminary examination" of the situation in Burundi -- the first step towards a full investigation and possible prosecutions -- looking into allegations including murder, torture, rape and forced disappearances. / AFP / ONESPHORE NIBIGIRA        (Photo credit should read ONESPHORE NIBIGIRA/AFP/Getty Images)
Members of Burundi's National Assembly raise their arm to vote on October 12, 2016 in Bujumbura, for the withdrawal of the International Criminal Court (ICC) from the capital, after the UN began an enquiry into human rights abuses in the turbulent nation. The draft law was passed with 94 votes in favour, two against and 14 abstentions. It will next go to the Senate -- also dominated by the ruling party -- before being approved by President Pierre Nkurunziza. In April, ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said she was conducting a "preliminary examination" of the situation in Burundi -- the first step towards a full investigation and possible prosecutions -- looking into allegations including murder, torture, rape and forced disappearances. / AFP / ONESPHORE NIBIGIRA (Photo credit should read ONESPHORE NIBIGIRA/AFP/Getty Images)

Is the International Criminal Court Crumbling Before Our Eyes?

With three African countries giving notice that they intend to abandon the ICC, a coordinated exodus might soon be coming.

Den Haag, NETHERLANDS:  People enter the International Criminal Court, 20 June 2006 in the Hague. Former Liberian president Charles Taylor was today en route to the Netherlands for trial for war crimes. Taylor will be kept in the same jail that held Yugoslav ex-president Slobodan Milosevic. Taylor faces 11 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity arising from the decade-long civil war in neighbouring Sierra Leone. As soon as he arrives, the former President will be transferred to the detention unit of the International Criminal Court (ICC) which shares a prison with the UN court which tried Milosevic, known as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). AFP PHOTO ANP JUAN VRIJDAG   ** NETHERLANDS OUT **  (Photo credit should read JUAN VRIJDAG/AFP/Getty Images)
Den Haag, NETHERLANDS: People enter the International Criminal Court, 20 June 2006 in the Hague. Former Liberian president Charles Taylor was today en route to the Netherlands for trial for war crimes. Taylor will be kept in the same jail that held Yugoslav ex-president Slobodan Milosevic. Taylor faces 11 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity arising from the decade-long civil war in neighbouring Sierra Leone. As soon as he arrives, the former President will be transferred to the detention unit of the International Criminal Court (ICC) which shares a prison with the UN court which tried Milosevic, known as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). AFP PHOTO ANP JUAN VRIJDAG ** NETHERLANDS OUT ** (Photo credit should read JUAN VRIJDAG/AFP/Getty Images)

Burundi Promised More Countries Would Withdraw from the ICC. Now South Africa Has.

Now that Burundi and South Africa have moved to leave the ICC, more African countries are expected to follow.

Members of Burundi's National Assembly raise their arm to vote on October 12, 2016 in Bujumbura, for the withdrawal of the International Criminal Court (ICC) from the capital, after the UN began an enquiry into human rights abuses in the turbulent nation.
The draft law was passed with 94 votes in favour, two against and 14 abstentions. It will next go to the Senate -- also dominated by the ruling party -- before being approved by President Pierre Nkurunziza. In April, ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said she was conducting a "preliminary examination" of the situation in Burundi -- the first step towards a full investigation and possible prosecutions -- looking into allegations including murder, torture, rape and forced disappearances. / AFP / ONESPHORE NIBIGIRA        (Photo credit should read c)
Members of Burundi's National Assembly raise their arm to vote on October 12, 2016 in Bujumbura, for the withdrawal of the International Criminal Court (ICC) from the capital, after the UN began an enquiry into human rights abuses in the turbulent nation. The draft law was passed with 94 votes in favour, two against and 14 abstentions. It will next go to the Senate -- also dominated by the ruling party -- before being approved by President Pierre Nkurunziza. In April, ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said she was conducting a "preliminary examination" of the situation in Burundi -- the first step towards a full investigation and possible prosecutions -- looking into allegations including murder, torture, rape and forced disappearances. / AFP / ONESPHORE NIBIGIRA (Photo credit should read c)

Washington Is Unhappy That Burundi Is ‘Very Happy’ to Be Leaving the ICC

The Burundian government wants to leave the International Criminal Court. They're well on their way.

Abidjan, IVORY COAST: Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza heads the ball as he attends a students training sessions at the ASEC Mimosas Academy in Abidjan 226 February 2007. Nkurunziza arrived in the Ivocy Coast the previous day on a three-day official visit.     AFP PHOTO / KAMBOU SIA (Photo credit should read KAMBOU SIA/AFP/Getty Images)
Abidjan, IVORY COAST: Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza heads the ball as he attends a students training sessions at the ASEC Mimosas Academy in Abidjan 226 February 2007. Nkurunziza arrived in the Ivocy Coast the previous day on a three-day official visit. AFP PHOTO / KAMBOU SIA (Photo credit should read KAMBOU SIA/AFP/Getty Images)

Burundi: Sepp Blatter Tried to ‘Bribe’ Our President to Step Down

The disgraced former football chief claims he was asked to intervene in Burundi's political crisis -- and did.

Laughter consultant Robin Graham and Abena Agyeman attempt to bring smiles and happiness to shoppers in Manchester city centre as part of the world laughter pledge on January 24, 2009 in Manchester, England.  Graham is launching the World Laughter Pledge, an attempt to make everyone in the world laugh together every Saturday at 9am in their respective time zone. Robin hopes that through his website, www.worldlaughterpledge.org, the  laughter wave will ripple around the world bringing happiness and peace.
Laughter consultant Robin Graham and Abena Agyeman attempt to bring smiles and happiness to shoppers in Manchester city centre as part of the world laughter pledge on January 24, 2009 in Manchester, England. Graham is launching the World Laughter Pledge, an attempt to make everyone in the world laugh together every Saturday at 9am in their respective time zone. Robin hopes that through his website, www.worldlaughterpledge.org, the laughter wave will ripple around the world bringing happiness and peace.

You Can’t Buy Happiness, But You Can Measure It

Report finds that Denmark is the world's happiest country and Burundi is its least.

TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY STEPHANIE AGLIETTI 
A group of Burundian refugees waits for a soap and blanket distribution at Gashora on Bugesera in April 10, 2015. Since few weeks Burundian are fleeing Burundi accusing Imbonerakure, the youths league of the ruling party, to harrass and threat them.They are currently more than 3,000 in Rwanda and mainly come from the bordering province of Kirundo.  AFP PHOTO / STEPHANIE AGLIETTI        (Photo credit should read STEPHANIE AGLIETTI/AFP/Getty Images)
TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY STEPHANIE AGLIETTI A group of Burundian refugees waits for a soap and blanket distribution at Gashora on Bugesera in April 10, 2015. Since few weeks Burundian are fleeing Burundi accusing Imbonerakure, the youths league of the ruling party, to harrass and threat them.They are currently more than 3,000 in Rwanda and mainly come from the bordering province of Kirundo. AFP PHOTO / STEPHANIE AGLIETTI (Photo credit should read STEPHANIE AGLIETTI/AFP/Getty Images)

Rwanda’s Way of Solving Its Refugee Problem? Kick Its Refugees Out.

For months Burundi has accused Rwanda of arming Burundian refugees. Now Rwanda is kicking the refugees out.

A soldier of the African peacekeeping force MISCA stands guard as former Seleka militants leave the Camp de Roux in Bangui on their way to another camp outside the city on January 27, 2014. The United Nations is expected to adopt a resolution imposing sanctions against those who foment violence in the crisis-wracked Central African Republic, a French official said, as troops of the African peacekeeping force MISCA escorted out of Bangui former rebels of the mainly Muslim coalition that seized power in March last year. AFP PHOTO / ISSOUF SANOGO        (Photo credit should read ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP/Getty Images)
A soldier of the African peacekeeping force MISCA stands guard as former Seleka militants leave the Camp de Roux in Bangui on their way to another camp outside the city on January 27, 2014. The United Nations is expected to adopt a resolution imposing sanctions against those who foment violence in the crisis-wracked Central African Republic, a French official said, as troops of the African peacekeeping force MISCA escorted out of Bangui former rebels of the mainly Muslim coalition that seized power in March last year. AFP PHOTO / ISSOUF SANOGO (Photo credit should read ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP/Getty Images)

The Burundi Intervention That Wasn’t

When the African Union threatened to force a peacekeeping mission, Burundi called its bluff — and threw the pan-African body’s credibility into question in the process.

BUJUMBURA, BURUNDI - JANUARY 29: French journalist for Le Monde newspaper Jean Philippe Remy (L) and British freelance photographer Phil Moore (R) are seen at the office of the attorney general, after being arrested during a police raid together with 15 others and released one day later, in Bujumbura, Burundi on January 29, 2016. (Photo by Yvan Rukundo/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
BUJUMBURA, BURUNDI - JANUARY 29: French journalist for Le Monde newspaper Jean Philippe Remy (L) and British freelance photographer Phil Moore (R) are seen at the office of the attorney general, after being arrested during a police raid together with 15 others and released one day later, in Bujumbura, Burundi on January 29, 2016. (Photo by Yvan Rukundo/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Burundi Denies Press Crackdown, Then Arrests Two Journalists

Burundi arrested a French journalist and a British photojournalist Thursday, after claiming the country's press is not threatened by the government.

Satellite imagery of specific location of mass burial site in Burundi
Satellite imagery of specific location of mass burial site in Burundi

Satellite Images Point Finger at Burundian Forces in Mass Killing

In mid-December, dozens of dead bodies disappeared from Bujumbura's streets. New evidence of mass graves may solve the mystery of where they went — and who’s to blame.

Burundian riot police form a barricade to hold protesters back during a demonstration against the president's bid to cling to power for a third term in Musaga, outskirts of Bujumbura, on April 28, 2015. At least five people have died since clashes broke out on April 26 after the ruling CNDD-FDD party, which has been accused of intimidating opponents, designated President Pierre Nkurunziza its candidate in the June 26 presidential election. AFP PHOTO / SIMON MAINA        (Photo credit should read SIMON MAINA/AFP/Getty Images)
Burundian riot police form a barricade to hold protesters back during a demonstration against the president's bid to cling to power for a third term in Musaga, outskirts of Bujumbura, on April 28, 2015. At least five people have died since clashes broke out on April 26 after the ruling CNDD-FDD party, which has been accused of intimidating opponents, designated President Pierre Nkurunziza its candidate in the June 26 presidential election. AFP PHOTO / SIMON MAINA (Photo credit should read SIMON MAINA/AFP/Getty Images)

Ahead of U.S. Meetings, Top Burundian Official Denies Mass Rape

In a wide-ranging interview with Foreign Policy, a senior advisor to Burundi's president denied human rights abuses are taking place in his country.

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The Last Newspaper in Burundi

Media houses have been shuttered, journalists attacked, and critics of the government murdered. But one broadsheet is still covering the African country's descent into chaos.

U.S. Army soldier provides security for infantry patrolling through Dandarh village, Afghanistan.
U.S. Army soldier provides security for infantry patrolling through Dandarh village, Afghanistan.

10 Conflicts to Watch in 2016

From Syria to the South China Sea, the conflicts and crises the world will face in the coming year.

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