Burundi has been slowly emerging from many years of instability and civil war. In 2000, 13 belligerent parties signed the Arusha Accords to usher in a plan for democracy and elections. A transitional government took over and democratic elections were planned. However, two Hutu rebels groups refused at attend the talks and remained actively engaged in war. In 2003, the largest rebel group, the CNDD-FDD signed the Pretoria Protocols and agreed to a ceasefire and government participation. A smaller Hutu extremist group, the FNL, remained in the bush. In 2005, for the first time since 1993, Burundi held democratic elections and CNDD-FDD leader, Pierre Nkurunziza was elected president.

The country is now facing many challenges. The government needs to establish meaningful justice mechanisms to deal with past war crimes and crimes against humanity. Despite promises from the local government and the United Nations little has been achieved. Killings have continued under the current government even though there has not been active conflict in the past two years. In August 2006, more than 30 people were ‘disappeared’ in the northern province of Muyinga by Burundian army members and secret service agents.

Recently, the only remaining rebel faction, the FNL, decided to return to fighting despite previous promises to a ceasefire. Two and a half years after the democratic elections of 2005 Burundi remains one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world.

Ledio Cakaj is a first year MPA. He worked in Burundi for a USAID-funded contractor conducting monitoring and evaluation of projects, and then for the International Organization for Migration. During more than two years, he traveled throughout the country and visited many communities including camps of refugees and internally displaced people. Ledio graduated from St. Johns College, Oxford University with a degree in Ancient and Modern History and is an Albanian national.