Burundi

Background

Burundi’s civil war ignited following the killing of President Melchior Ndadaye in 1993. In 2005, the main rebel movement, the Conseil National pour la Défense de la Démocratie - Forces de Défense de la Démocratie (CNDD-FDD - National Council for the Defence of Democracy - Forces for the Defence of Democracy), signed a peace treaty with the government and subsequently acceded to power by winning democratic elections. The last active armed group, the Parti pour la Libération du Peuple Hutu - Forces Nationales de Libération (Palipehutu-FNL - Party for the Liberation of the Hutu People - National Liberation Forces), agreed to a ceasefire with the government in September 2006. Despite renewed fighting from July 2007, negotiations on a final peace deal resumed in May 2008. In April 2009, the Palipehutu-FNL gave up armed struggle and registered as a political party under the name Forces Nationales de Libération (FNL - National Forces of Liberation).

Anti-personnel (AP) mine contamination in Burundi is the result of more than ten years of civil war in which both the army and NSAs have used this weapon.

Activities

The signed the Deed of Commitment banning AP mines in 2003. In 2006, after meeting with Geneva Call, the denounced the use of AP mines and committed to collaborating in mine action. Geneva Call also pushed for the inclusion of the AP mine ban in the with the Palipehutu-FNL. Geneva Call continues to lobby the CNDD-FDD-led government for the implementation of the AP Mine Ban Convention, which has progressed in recent years. Humanitarian demining operations by and the began in 2006 and by November 2008, 99 per cent of suspected affected areas were reportedly cleared. In 2008, the government destroyed its AP mine stocks - including the CNDD-FDD’s small stockpile - and adopted  . Geneva Call’s engagement work in Burundi was undertaken in partnership with the (CIRID).

For further information:

Elisabeth Decrey Warner, 2008, , Geneva Call Statement, 17 March.

Geneva Call, 2006, , Press Release, 25 October.

CNDD-FDD, 2004, , 5 January.

Geneva Call, 2003, , Press Release, 15 December.