Burundi : The Biography of a Small African Country

'A very accessible and empathic, and yet accurate, book on Rwanda s tragic twin. Nigel Watt puts people and their experiences and emotions at the middle of his story.' Professor Filip Reyntjens, University of Antwerp 'The painful history of Burundi is so full of suffering, cruelty and emotion that it is all too possible to lose sight of the courage and fortitude which were always there amidst the nightmares. Facts and reality are hard to assemble, but in this comprehensive, honest and always sensitive book, Nigel Watt has set out to put events in to perspective.' Lord Frank Judd, formerly British Minister of Overseas Development Little known in the English-speaking world, Burundi is Rwanda s twin, a small Central African country with a complex history of ethnic tension between its Hutu and Tutsi populations that has itself experienced traumatic events, including mass killings of over 200,000 people. The country remained in a state of simmering civil war until 2004. Julius Nyerere and Nelson Mandela took turns as mediators in a lengthy, and eventually successful, peace process which has endowed Burundi with new institutions, including a new constitution, that led to the election of a majority Hutu government in 2005. But there are many problems still to solve apart from ethnic tensions, above all the entrenched poverty of most Burundians, which has seen it designated by NGOs as one of the most deprived countries on earth. Nigel Watt s book discusses the troubled political fortunes of this beautiful yet disturbed country in the heart of Central Africa. He traces the origins of its political crises, sheds light on Burundi's recent history by means of interviews with leading participants and those whose lives have been affected by horrific events, and helps demystify the country's 'ethnic' divisions. "Little known in the English-speaking world, Burundi is Rwanda's twin, a small Central African country with a complex history of ethnic tension between its Hutu and Tutsi populations that has itself experienced traumatic events, including mass killings of over 200,000 people. The country remained in a state of simmering civil war until 2004, after which Julius Nyerere and Nelson Mandela took turns as mediators in a lengthy, and eventually successful, peace process which has endowed Burundi with new institutions, including a new constitution that led to the election of Pierre Nkurunziza as president in 2005. After some years of modest progress Burundi's peace was shattered again when the president decided to stand for a third term in 2015. The tensions today are more political than ethnic but the country faces many other problems, above all the entrenched poverty which has seen Burundi designated as one of the most deprived countries on earth. Nigel Watt's book discusses the troubled political fortunes of this beautiful yet disturbed country which is now part of the East African Community. He traces the origins of its political crises, sheds light on Burundi's recent history by means of interviews with leading participants and those whose lives have been affected by horrific events, helps demystify the country's 'ethnic' divisions and follows the fortunes of the Nkurunziza regime"--Inside jacket "Little known in the English speaking world, Burundi is Rwanda's twin - a small country with an equally tortured history of tensions between Hutus and Tutsis and several traumatic events that have been described as genocide. Julius Nyerere and Nelson Mandela took turns as mediators in a lengthy, and eventually successful, peace process which has given the country new institutions ... but there are still many problems to solve." "Nigel Watt describes this beautiful and cultured land which has produced some remarkable peacemakers, journalists, teachers, political and church leaders. He traces the origins of the crisis and brings Burundi's recent history to life with interviews: some which help explain the mysteries of the country's 'ethnic' divisions, so different from elsewhere in Africa; some with people who experienced horrific events; and some with others who have worked for reconciliation - in the media, in the churches, in civil society - and have helped create a chance for a much more hopeful future."--BOOK JACKET Burundi is a small Central African country with a complex history of ethnic tension. This book traces the origins of its political crises, sheds light on Burundi's contemporary history by means of interviews with leading participants and those whose lives have been affected by horrific events, and helps demystify the country's "ethnic" divisions. Co-publisher from jacket.Includes bibliographical references (p. 211-214) and index.