Burundi

The end of the Cold War forced a new phenomenon onto the shoulders of those entities encumbered by the task of restoring stability to regions emerging, or wanting to emerge, from periods of armed conflict. The endeavour and its attendant processes entailed an evolution of simple peacekeeping. Therefore, the subsequent assignation given to these missions was ‘post-conflict reconstruction’ (PCR). The African Union (AU), initially under the guise of the Organisation for African Unity (OAU), has been involved in Burundi since 1993, which was the year when the country spiralled into internecine ethnic conflict (Tutsi against Hutu) just after the end of military rule was marked by national elections. Amid the constant diplomatic wrangling, PCR in Burundi has had a unique procedural genealogy within an exceptional political milieu and poignantly representative African circumstances. It was the AU’s first peace operation and is still ongoing, which designates it as an important case study and merits assessment. This is especially true with regards to the all important initial phase of PCR that involves intervention in an emergency situation. Moreover, the AU and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Policy Framework for Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development represents an important new dynamic in PCR and should be taken into consideration. (African Partnership Forum, 2008, 18; Agoagye, 2004, 10; Ramsbotham, 2005, 186)