Post-Conflict Reconstruction

Abstract

IntroductionBurundi is a state that suffered low intensity conflicts for many years after independence (Daley, 2006). However, in the years since the signing of the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement in 2000, the country appears to be on its way to sustainable peace. Yet, many challenges of post-conflict reconstruction remain. This paper analyses this process and relates it to the AU and NEPAD post-conflict reconstruction frameworks to see what each can learn from the other.BackgroundHistoryBurundi has struggled with sporadic, often very violent, conflicts since it gained independence (Daley-2, 2006). This paper will address the reconstruction process following the most recent civil war, which began in 1993 with the assassination of the first democratically elected Hutu president, Melchior Ndadaye, during an attempted military coup, and ended in 2000 with the signing of the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement in August (Ndikumana, 2005). It is estimated that in this period about 200 000 people were killed, 350 000 were exiled and one million were displaced (Daley-2, 2006).However, the root causes of this conflict go back much further and it is widely agreed that if post-conflict reconstruction is to prevent a recurrence of conflict, it has to address these issues adequately (Ndikumana, 2005). During the colonial era, an emphasis on resource allocation resulted in the exclusion of a large portion of the population, the Hutu ethnic group. The post-colonial state was unable to reverse this and promote inclusion. During this period there was extensive rivalry within the Tutsi elite while the Hutu population began to realise that they held the power of the majority in a democracy (Daley-2, 2006). Thus, after President Ndadaye's death, many Hutu's responded by killing their Tutsi neighbours in an attempt to 'defend democracy' and the Tutsi dominated security forces responded with equal brutality (IISS, 2000). Eventually, a peace agreement, the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement, was signed seven years later, with former South African President Nelson Mandela acting as mediator. The signatories involved in the negotiations were the main Tutsi party of the Union for National Progress, UPRONA, ten other Tutsi political parties, seven of the Hutus and the military (Daley-2, 2006). A UN operation, ONUB, was sent to Burundi between 2004 and 2006 to aid in the implementation of this agreement (ONUB, 2007).Post-conflict ReconstructionLike most concepts in the field of international relations, no single definition for post-conflict reconstruction exists. However, broadly speaking, post-conflict reconstruction is the process a state undergoes following a conflict to rebuild and achieve sustainable peace. It encompasses several aspects including inter alia security, political governance, socio-economic development, gender and justice. The strategy should address short, medium and long-term goals. However, handling this broad scope has proven to be very challenging in practice (NEPAD Secretariat, 2005).The Issue of EthnicityThis paper will discuss the issue of ethnicity in Burundi and how it was interpreted and addressed in post-conflict reconstruction strategies. In fact an analysis of this very controversial issue is necessary before evaluating the Arusha Peace Agreement. In particular, it is necessary to understand the role that ethnicity played in various facets of society. It is crucial that this role be interpreted correctly so that proper solutions can be put in place.BackgroundThe make-up of Burundi's population is 85 per cent Hutu, 14 per cent Tutsi and 1 per cent Twa. However, the issue of ethnicity is much more complex and these lines are not clearly drawn since clans, which are often trans-ethnic themselves, remain one of the most crucial distinctions in society. The lines are also blurred due to the fact that Hutus and Tutsis often intermarried and lived together. …