True, the situation in Burundi is not without its risks and problems. But it has gone so well this summer in Burundi. As you’ll see below, Reuters, IRIN (the source of most Reuters stories), the UN and a few others do a fine job – but their stories are not picked up around the world. To put it crudely: Start a genocide – and you get attention. Start peace and development – and you get virtually none.
As if peace and a better life for more than 7 million people wasn’t worthy to report…
TFF is one of the few organisations that follow and support the peace process in Burundi – through 11 fine civil society organisations in the country. You can read much more here, at our Burundi Forum. Here are some of the recent stories out of Burundi:
July-October 2005 – Oldest stories on top, most recent at botton
Reuters
Chronology of key event in Burundi’s civil war
Look what they have gone through in Burundi…
Reuters
Can peace take root in war-weary Burundi?
BBC
Long wait for justice in Burundi
The Christian Post
Archbishop of Canterbury brings hope as Burundi recovers
AllAfrica.com
Burundi elections are teaching Central Africa a lesson – UN Official
Reuters
Burundi’s peace path to move ahead in senate polls
Reuters
Burundi to add three women to its senate
SignOnSanDiego.com
Burundi leader open to talks with rebels
ReliefWeb
Burundi has shown that its electoral system is mature and vibrant
AllAfrica.com
Following elections, Burundi needs world’s support more than ever
UN News Centre
UN envoy pledges UN support for Burundi’s ongoing political transition
Reuters
Sharp rise in refugee returns to Burundi, says UNHCR
Reuters
Burundi’s former rebels hand in weapons
Reuters
Burundi’s ex-rebel head Nkurunziza takes presidency
Reuters
Burundi moves forward but true peace still distant
Reuters
New president faces monumental tasks
Reuter
Woman elected speaker og lower house
Reuters
Interview with Immaculée Nahayo, Speaker of the National Assembly
Reuters
UN-lead peave body heralds Burundi success
News24.com
African Union envoy: Burundi sets an example
News24.com
Burundi’s new leader backed
UN News Centre
Kofi Annan congratulates Burundi
International Crisis Group
Elections in Burundi: a radical shakeup of political landscape
www.rwanda.net
Rwanda-Burundi detente boosts Great Lake peace
“It’s one of Africa’s most explosive relationships: Rwanda and Burundi share the same ethnic divide — majority Hutu, minority Tutsi – and turmoil in either country usually feeds chaos in its neighbour.So mediators working to calm the stormy Great Lakes region are cheering a string of friendly overtures sent by Tutsi-led Rwanda to President Pierre Nkurunziza, a Hutu who took power on Friday as part of efforts to end Burundi’s civil war.
Around Africa, the sighs of relief are almost audible….”
ChinaView.com
New leadership ushers in peace and stibility in Burundi
IOL.com
New Burundi government takes shape – new vice-presidents
Reuters
New presidet lays out policy
M&C News
UN Security Council lauds Burundi leaders
IOL.com
Ethnic mix in new Burundi cabinet – 40/60 and many women
Reuters
Burundi seeks church help in war truth probe
UN News Centre
Burundi’s president pledges to provide free primary education for all children
Reuters
Land crisis looms as refugees come home
ReliefWeb
Burundi: improving political and security situation encourages IDP return
International Herald Tribune
Putting the warlords out of business
By Jean-Marie Guéhenno, UN under-secretary general for peacekeeping operation
“I was in Burundi for the inauguration of the new president. There was joy among his followers, but the overwhelming sense among those I met was relief: relief that the conflict was over, and the long work of putting things back together again can begin. Success in Burundi shows what a conflict-torn people and their leaders can achieve when supported for the long haul by a region and the international community.
Perhaps for the first time in history, the reach of collective peacekeeping is no longer exceeding its grasp” – writes Guéhenno.
AngolaPress
International community assures support to Burundi
BBC
Burundi: A question of justice
New24.com
14 000 refugees back to Burundi
MiamiHerald.com
Burundi begins program to disarm fighters
VOA
Burundi rebels spurn government’s peaceoffer
BBC
Burundi’s rebels keep on fighting
Reuters
Burundi rebels willing to negotiate but only with ethnic leaders
Reuters
Burundi rebel splinter group urges peace talks
“In a statement seen by Reuters, 100 members of the Forces for National Liberation (FNL) said they were tired of war and urged rebel leader Agathon Rwasa to accept President Pierre Nkurunziza’s offer of negotiations.
“We ask the international community to tell Rwasa that now is time to go into talks and that Burundi needs this,” it said. Very very encouraging!
AngolaPress
Burundi pays demobilised former fighters
News24.com
Burundi invests in education
IOL.com
Burundi seeks donor aid amid education crisis
It asks for the tiny sum of 35 million dollar… Authorites estimated that enrolment would would eventually expand from 260 000 to about half a million. One foreign diplomat based in Bujumbura welcomed the decision to introduce free education by President Pierre Nkurunziza…
UN News Centre
Security Council encourages establishment of “Partners’ Forum” for peace and reconciliation in Burundi ‘as soon as possible.’
UN Security Council
Statement on Burundi Partners Forum
Kofi Annan’s report to the Security Council of September 14, 2005
Special report of the S-G on the United Nations Operation in Burundi
USInfoStateGov
Women key to revitalization of Burundi, new president says
IOL
Burundi president says no to expensive cars
Burundi’s president has told ministers to stop orders for luxury government vehicles in a drive to cut costs in a country where most survive on the equivalent of 25 US cents a day. All orders for luxury four-wheel drive Toyota Land Cruiser Prados are to be halted and those already bought will be sold at auction,
