Conflict and Poverty in Burundi
• Burundi is one-third of the size of Scotland with a population of over 7.3 million
• 68% of the population live below the poverty line
- • 16% of the population is internally displaced as a result of conflict
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- • 11.2% of the population suffers from HIV/AIDS
Since gaining independence in 1962, Burundi has witnessed years of class and ethnic based violence with major clashes in 1964, the Burundian genocide in 1972, and further conflicts running from the late 1980s. Despite the election of Burundi's first democratically elected government in 1993 the violence continued with a further genocide claiming over 300,000 lives the following year.
Burundi is Africa's second most densely populated country and scarcity of land has resulted in many disputes. This has been exacerbated by the return of huge numbers of refugees and internally displaced persons who often return to find their homes destroyed or occupied.
Despite ceasefires being signed in 2003, 2005 and 2006, peace in Burundi remains fragile. SCIAF is funding local peace building projects to reduce the potential for further conflict.
The SCIAF-funded Bashingantahe Peace Building Programme works at establishing justice and reconciliation at a grassroots level. The Bashingantahe offers mediation in every village so that civil and domestic disputes can be resolved without recourse to violence. Through monitoring and reporting government activity it is also able to ensure that bad governance and corruption are rooted out.
Statistics courtesy of the World Bank and DFID