Country Gees

In 2006, Burundi was a country of approximately 8 million people located in East Africa. It was a presidential republic led by President Pierre Nkurunziza, who had been in office since 2005. According to constructmaterials, Burundi had made considerable progress in rebuilding its economy and infrastructure following the end of the civil war in 2005. The country’s primary source of income was still based on agriculture and mining, but industry and services were growing steadily due to increased foreign investment from neighboring countries such as Tanzania and Rwanda. Poverty and inequality were still prevalent, with nearly 70% of the population living below the poverty line. Despite this, access to education had improved since 2000 with primary school attendance rate increasing from approximately 30% to over 50% by 2006. Additionally, economic growth had been steady since 2000 due to increased foreign investment from around the world. Tourism was also increasing as more people became aware of Burundi’s unique culture and landscapes including Bujumbura, Gitega, Rusizi National Park, Kibira National Park, and Lake Tanganyika.

Yearbook 2006

Burundi. Following continued sporadic fighting during the year, the last armed hut movement, the National Liberation Forces (FNL), entered into a cease-fire agreement with the government in October. All members of the FNL were granted legal immunity for political crimes, but not for war crimes, which will be examined by a future Truth Commission. Already in April, the nightly curfew that had been in effect for 34 years was lifted.

In 2005, Burundi had been characterized by optimism, when general elections led to a division of power that would put an end to the ethnic conflict between Hutu and Tutsi. Now, pessimism rose again and the new government was increasingly criticized for incompetence and corruption. The dominant party, the former Hutumilis Democratic Defense Forces (FDD), was accused of putting the divide of power in practice. According to CountryAAH, major public holidays in Burundi include Independence Day (July 1) and New Year (January 1). The human rights organization Human Rights Watch accused the security service of summary executions of at least 38 people during the year and hundreds of arbitrary arrests.

In October, the country was shocked by the news that seven high-ranking politicians, including former President Domitien Ndayizeye and a former vice president, had been arrested following allegations of preparations for coup attempts. The Supreme Court was criticized for bowing to political pressure when it changed its decision to release them against bail. Within the opposition, there were strong doubts that there were any coup plans, and Vice President Alice Nzomukunda resigned in protest of what she called human rights violations and corruption on the part of the FDD leadership.

Demography and economic geography. – Internal state of East Africa. Characterized by one of the highest densities in Africa, the population (8,053,574 at the 2008 census; 10,482,752, according to an estimate by UNDESA, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, of 2014), in the urban area of capital, Bujumbura

(546,752 residents at the 2008 census; 707,000, according to a 2014 estimate), reaches 5715 residents / km2, while 88% live in rural areas. With a life expectancy at birth of 54.1 years (2013), 86% of Burundians are literate. Despite the GDP growth of around 4% in recent years, a newfound socio-political stability and the reform program in place since 2005, the economy, linked above all to the primary sector (40% of GDP), remains fragile. The Burundi, which also has nickel, coltan, gold, depends on external aid, making it one of the three poorest countries in the world (GDP per capita with purchasing power parity, PPA, of $ 912 in 2014; 180 ° ranked according to the Human Development Index).

October

Former President Buyoya is sentenced to life in prison for murder

21 October

Burundi’s former president Pierre Buyoya has been sentenced to life in prison for involvement in the 1993 assassination of his successor Melchior Ndadaye. Buyoya is today 70 years old and the African Union (AU) envoy to the Sahel. He is convicted in his absence and describes the trial as “politically motivated”. Buyoya’s vice president Bernard Busokoza is sentenced to 20 years in prison while 15 other people, including many former high-ranking military officers, are sentenced to life in prison. Ndadaye was Burundi’s first democratically elected president and is seen by many Burundians as a national hero.

September

UN: human rights violations as numerous as during Nkurunziza

September 19

The human rights situation in Burundi has not improved during President Ndayishimiye’s rule, UN investigators say, adding that the level of violence in the country is sky high. Investigators state that hopes for improvements raised when Ndayishimiye took over after Nkurunziza’s death have been dashed. Independent media and organizations cannot work freely. Impunity is widespread and human rights violations are as widespread as ever. People suspected of human rights violations during Nkurunziza have been given high positions in the new government, the investigators write in a new report that covers the period from May 2019 onwards.