Donate
Follow TFF
Facebook-f X-twitter Linkedin-in Tiktok Telegram Weixin Vk
Archive 1986 - 2017
Jan Oberg

Burundi’s peace struggle – a story of hope out of Africa

Features collected by TFF • Updated regularly, April 28, 2005

News out of Africa are mostly bad news – AIDS, poverty, humanitarian catastrophes, war. Burundi today is a story about a hard struggle for peace and reasons for hope. It is about rebels laying down their weapons and demobilisation and a new post-war defence force. It is about elections, power sharing, and a truth and reconciliation committee. And it is about an absolutely essential UN mission – and a world community that still does not reward those who move to peace enough.

The story about the struggle for peace in Burundi has hardly been written and certainly not reached beyond the tiny circle of specialists.

Of course, there are not only good news. But hugely complex and risky, the peace process is still a story of hope. It deserves to be told worldwide. If Burundi got more media attention, it might also get more aid and feel encouraged on its difficult path. And that would help it to never again fall back into genocide and war!

TFF is committed to do the little we can to help – see the TFF Burundi Forum with our project, country profile, links, news, photos, etc.

Here follows a series of news and sites. The fact that they are predominantly African mirrors the global news structure: so few of the many resourceful Western media cover Burundi at all. But don’t you think they would rush to the place if there were a new genocide?

We hope the links will serve those who seek good news and want to help this remarkable country and its people.

ReliefWev
Factfile on Burundi

BBC
African leaders seal Burundi peace deal

IRINNews.org
Interview with Carolyn McAskie, head of the UN peacekeeping mission (ONUB) in Burundi

AllAfrica.com
Current news from Burundi

PolitInfo.com
Burundi Constitution comes into force in November 2004

AllAfrica.com
February 28, 2005 set for constitutional referendum

Business in Africa Online
Why peace in Burundi matters to South Africa

Global Village News and Resources
Nations pledge over $1 billion to rebuild Burundi

News24.com
Jacob Zuma, South Africa’s deputy president:
“Good progress in Burundi”

CPJ – Committee to Protect Journalists
International Press Freedom Award 2004 awarded to Alexis Sinduhije
Sinduhije is the founder and director of Burundi’s Radio Publique Africaine (RPA), which has defied government bans and intimidation to become one of war-torn Burundi’s most popular radio stations. RPA and Alexis is a member of the TFF Peace Coalition.

China View
Will there be peace in Great Lakes region?

TravelVideo.TV
Looking for peace in Africa – about the Dar Es Salaam Declaration

IOL, South Africa
Burundi on a path to peaceful demobilisation

OneWorld United States
Large bonfire for guns marks opening og disarmament and reintegration programme

EU Business
The EU gives 100 million Euros to Burundi – but no further delays of elections

BBC
Burundi has appointed a new vice-president – Frederic Ngenzebuhoro of the Uprona – the main Tutsi party. The referendum on the constitution has been delayed.

AfrolNews
Upcoming Burundi polls a chance for peace

VOA
Moving toward peace – demobilizing Burundi’s ex-combatants

SpaceWar
500 child soldiers among 2,000 fighters disarmed in Burundi

News 24.com
Burundi establishes National Truth and Reconciliation Commission (NTRC)

VOA 
Burundi President Creates New National Defense Force to Include Former Rebels

SpaceWar.com
Main ex-rebel group in Burundi becomes political party

Refugess international
Burundi: An opportunity to save lives

IOL
Burundi president to honour peace deal ruling

Reuters Alert Net
Rebel group says yes to negotiations but rejects Zuma as mediator

United Nations
Assisting elections in Burundi – and the dates for the various elections

International Crisis Group
Elections in Burundi – The Peace Wager

Reuters AlertNet
Burundi’s president: I’ll step down after elections!

Reuters AlertNet
Ex-rebel leader back home after 10 years in exile

Reuters AlertNet
Radio back on air after 24-hour suspension

ReliefWeb
Majority of IDPs returned home, but displacement continues near capital

Reuters Alert
Great Lakes: Ministers chart ways of implementing regional security pact

AllAfrica.com
Burundi to Stick to Re-Organisation Roadmap

News24
Thousands demobbed in Burundi

ReliefWeb
Army says 18,000 ex-rebels disarmed in Burundi

Reuters
Burundi peace hopes grow with army’s silence

AllAfrica.com
Burundi: National Assembly Adopts New Electoral Code

ReliefWeb
Burundi: One young woman’s recovery tells the story of millions

IOL, South Africa
Burundi’s women soldiers want normal lives

CounterCurrents.org – Mandisi Majavu
War and Peace in Burundi

BBC
Burundi last active rebel group offers truce

Reuters
Thousands disarmed since December, UN official says

ReliefWeb
UN says Burundi’s last rebels must meet conditions for peace talks

Reuters
Top UN official “shocked” over Burundi poll delay

Mail & Guardian
Rebels aboard Burundi peace train

VOANews
Decision to Extend Burundi Transitional Government Draws Mixed Reaction

Good results from the recent referendum
on a new constitution and power-sharing

BBC
Burundi holds first post-war vote

ReliefWeb
ONUB welcomes the successful referendum in Burundi

VOA
Burundi Voters Overwhelmingly Back Power-Sharing Constitution

But of course there are still problems…

The emerging very serious food crisis

BBC
Burundi battles with food shortages

Action by Churches Together
Rapid Response Payment for Burundi – the food shortage crisis

The Anglican Communion Service
Crisis in Northern Burundi

AllAfrica.com
World Food Program tackles serious food crisis in Northern Burundi

VOA
Burundi Introduces Famine Tax to Ease Country’s Hunger Victims

BBC
Burundi approves new famine tax

UN World Food program
Food insecurity increases for millions in Burundi

AllAfrica.com
Food Insecurity Increases for Millions in Burundi, UN World Food Programme Says
Food insecurity is worsening for the 7.6 million people in post-conflict Burundi and nearly three-quarters of them are facing starvation, the United Nations spokesman for the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said in Geneva today.

KeralaNext
Burundi will need 40 per cent more emergency food this year, UN agencies say

UPI – Washington Times
U.N. positive but not content on Burundi

The international donor community
does not live up to expectations

ReliefWeb – OCHA
Humanitarian aid to Burundi from the international community 2004
Click on Table 1 and you will see that only 45.70% of the appeals for Burundi were met

Humanitarian aid to Burundi from the international community 2005

The human rights situation

Amnesty International
Burundi: Imminent resumption of executions or summary trials and executions

News24.com
Burundi human rights ‘catastrophic´’

Reuters Alert
Rights violations flourish amid Burundi’s impunity

Reuters Alert
Rights activists fear Burundi killers may be elected

Inter Press Services
“When will justice return from its long absence?”

Reuters
Burundi radio accused of inciting public suspended

Reuters Alert
UN envoy makes plea to FNL rebels

Reuters Alert Net
Burundi – reports of flawed voter list leaves transnation floundering

Reuters
Annan recommends dual inquiries on genocide in Burundi

Reuters
150,000 refugees to return to Burundi in 2005, says UN

IOL, South Africa
Burundi rights group releases shocking stats

PhD, Peace & future researcher + ‌Art Photographer, Professor Emeritus and media commentator

View all posts by Jan Oberg →

Share

Archive 1986 - 2017Forum

Related Posts

Archive 1986 - 2017
Now we know: there need be no clash of civilizations
LONDON – So far so good, at least on the wider level. While internally Iraq seems on the edge of chaos, the much heralded clash of civilizations between the Muslim and Judaeo-Christian worlds has yet to become apparent. We have anger and despair aplenty in the Arab and Muslim worlds. But very little rushing to the standard and there was no great pilgrimage of warriors to join the fight, as happened when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan twenty years ago, and then, having driven the Red Army out, were left to ferment in that mountainous redoubt. With the armaments supplied by the CIA the mujahidin were transformed into Al Qaeda that became, for a relatively brief moment as these things go, ‘the greatest threat to the homeland that America has ever known.’ Nevertheless a ‘Cold War’ between much of the Muslim world and the West is certainly in full swing. Winston...
Archive 1986 - 2017
Nuclear Age Peace Foundation Statement
The Challenge of Nuclear Weaponsin the Twenty-first CenturyA Path Forward The peoples and governments of the world face an urgent challenge relating to weaponry of mass destruction and particularly to nuclear weaponry.  At the crossroads of technology, terrorism, geopolitical ambition, and policies of preemption are new and potent dangers for humanity. Despite ending the nuclear standoff of the Cold War era, nuclear weaponry is again menacing the peoples of the world with catastrophic possibilities.  We recognize the need for any government to pursue its security interests in accordance with international law; and further, we recognize that distinctive threats to these interests now exist as a result of an active international terrorist network having declared war on the United States and its allies. Nonetheless, we reject the assessment of the current US administration that upgrading a reliance on nuclear weapons is in any sense justified as a response. We find it...
Archive 1986 - 2017
Sanctions against Yugoslavia – A continuation of NATO’s aggression
By Karin Wegestal MP, the Social Democratic Partyon behalf of the Swedish Committee for Solidarity with the Yugoslav People During the last decade, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia has received more than 500,000 refugees from Croatia and Bosnia, and another 300,000 internally displaced persons, mainly from the province Kosovo and Metohia. For a country with about ten million inhabitants, such an influx of homeless people is obviously a very heavy burden – even under peaceful conditions. But in addition to that, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia has been the subject to sanctions from the western powers for close to ten years and its infrastructure was badly hurt through Nato’s intense bombardment during 78 days in 1999. The result of all this is that Yugoslavia, once the most developed industrial country in Eastern Europe, is today the poorest country in Europe. In Serbia excluding Kosovo, with about ten million inhabitants and...

Recent Articles

Peace proposal
A New Thinking on Peace and Security: Towards a Multipolar and Cooperative Future
Photo above: Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd’s Non-Violence outside UN Headquarters in New York. Kirill Levin, CC BY-NC-SA 2. Jan Oberg November 3, 2026 I am happy to be published in Horizons which is produced by the Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development, CIRSD, in Belgrade. My contribution brings out a radical re-thinking of what concepts such as defence, security, deterrence – and peace – may mean if we want to create a more peaceful world. It also summarises a few things I have been working with the last few decades. Please read it here Og her er den på dansk, takket være Johnny Baltzersens lynhurtige oversættelse
Peace proposal
TFF’s portfolio for ægte fred i Ukraine nu på dansk
UNITE-tillid, DREAM-velstand og andre konstruktive komponenter Normally we publish articles in English here. But this is a translation of a very important TFF document that should reach as many as possible in Denmark since this country’s government has been one of the most hardline in Europe and, up till now at least, has refused to use diplomacy and, instead, spent tremendous sums on arming Ukraine with the express goal of defeating Russia. Thus this – unique – article is in Danish. Vi er Johnny Baltzersen og hans Fælles Sikkerhed – Fælles Fremtid på Substack overmåde taknemmelige for at have oversat og publiceret TFF’s 2025-portfølje for fredsidéer med henblik på Ukraines fremtid. Vi håber den nu kan nå mange flere danskere – som også vil sprede den og skabe debat – nu den danske regerings og folketingspartiernes politik på dette område siden 2022 står nu – forudsigeligt – ved vejs ende....
Peace research
Silence Has Become Part of the Story of PRIO’s Galtung Biography
Jan Oberg TFF director October 28, 2026 Exactly one month has now passed since I published my criticism of the introduction to the special issue on Johan Galtung published by the Journal of Global Security Studies, JoGSS, and of Tor Egil Førland’s chapter about Galtung which serves as a preview to his forthcoming biography of Galtung to be published by PRIO. See the original on The Transnational here and the same article on TFF Substack with many general and critical comments and, in particular, the people who decided to withdraw from the biography project in protest. The special issue itself was extraordinary. It was devoted to the intellectual legacy of one of the founders of peace research and contained a number of strong assessments of his personality, scholarship, intellectual trajectory, and public role. Such assessments are, of course, entirely legitimate. No scholar is beyond criticism, and neither was Johan Galtung....

TFF on Substack

Discover and subscribe to more peace materials on TFF Substack

Posts
Videos
TFF Channel on Rumble

Most Popular

Peace proposal
A New Thinking on Peace and Security: Towards a Multipolar and Cooperative Future
Photo above: Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd’s Non-Violence outside UN Headquarters in New York. Kirill Levin, CC BY-NC-SA 2. Jan Oberg November 3, 2026 I am happy to be published in Horizons which is produced by the Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development, CIRSD, in Belgrade. My contribution brings out a radical re-thinking of what concepts such as defence, security, deterrence – and peace – may mean if we want to create a more peaceful world. It also summarises a few things I have been working with the last few decades. Please read it here Og her er den på dansk, takket være Johnny Baltzersens lynhurtige oversættelse
Peace proposal
TFF’s portfolio for ægte fred i Ukraine nu på dansk
UNITE-tillid, DREAM-velstand og andre konstruktive komponenter Normally we publish articles in English here. But this is a translation of a very important TFF document that should reach as many as possible in Denmark since this country’s government has been one of the most hardline in Europe and, up till now at least, has refused to use diplomacy and, instead, spent tremendous sums on arming Ukraine with the express goal of defeating Russia. Thus this – unique – article is in Danish. Vi er Johnny Baltzersen og hans Fælles Sikkerhed – Fælles Fremtid på Substack overmåde taknemmelige for at have oversat og publiceret TFF’s 2025-portfølje for fredsidéer med henblik på Ukraines fremtid. Vi håber den nu kan nå mange flere danskere – som også vil sprede den og skabe debat – nu den danske regerings og folketingspartiernes politik på dette område siden 2022 står nu – forudsigeligt – ved vejs ende....
Peace research
Silence Has Become Part of the Story of PRIO’s Galtung Biography
Jan Oberg TFF director October 28, 2026 Exactly one month has now passed since I published my criticism of the introduction to the special issue on Johan Galtung published by the Journal of Global Security Studies, JoGSS, and of Tor Egil Førland’s chapter about Galtung which serves as a preview to his forthcoming biography of Galtung to be published by PRIO. See the original on The Transnational here and the same article on TFF Substack with many general and critical comments and, in particular, the people who decided to withdraw from the biography project in protest. The special issue itself was extraordinary. It was devoted to the intellectual legacy of one of the founders of peace research and contained a number of strong assessments of his personality, scholarship, intellectual trajectory, and public role. Such assessments are, of course, entirely legitimate. No scholar is beyond criticism, and neither was Johan Galtung....
Read More
knotted gun
Peace proposal
A New Thinking on Peace and Security: Towards a Multipolar and Cooperative Future
Photo above: Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd’s Non-Violence outside UN Headquarters in New York. Kirill Levin, CC BY-NC-SA 2. Jan Oberg November 3, 2026 I am happy to be published in Horizons which is produced by the Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development, CIRSD, in Belgrade. My contribution brings out a radical re-thinking of what concepts such as defence, security, deterrence – and peace – may mean if we want to create a more peaceful world. It also summarises a few things I have been working with the last few decades. Please read it here Og her er den på dansk, takket være Johnny Baltzersens lynhurtige oversættelse
TFFPortfolioVign
Peace proposal
TFF’s portfolio for ægte fred i Ukraine nu på dansk
UNITE-tillid, DREAM-velstand og andre konstruktive komponenter Normally we publish articles in English here. But this is a translation of a very important TFF document that should reach as many as possible in Denmark since this country’s government has been one of the most hardline in Europe and, up till now at least, has refused to use diplomacy and, instead, spent tremendous sums on arming Ukraine with the express goal of defeating Russia. Thus this – unique – article is in Danish. Vi er Johnny Baltzersen og hans Fælles Sikkerhed – Fælles Fremtid på Substack overmåde taknemmelige for at have oversat og publiceret TFF’s 2025-portfølje for fredsidéer med henblik på Ukraines fremtid. Vi håber den nu kan nå mange flere danskere – som også vil sprede den og skabe debat – nu den danske regerings og folketingspartiernes politik på dette område siden 2022 står nu – forudsigeligt – ved vejs ende....
JoGSS-Silent
Peace research
Silence Has Become Part of the Story of PRIO’s Galtung Biography
Jan Oberg TFF director October 28, 2026 Exactly one month has now passed since I published my criticism of the introduction to the special issue on Johan Galtung published by the Journal of Global Security Studies, JoGSS, and of Tor Egil Førland’s chapter about Galtung which serves as a preview to his forthcoming biography of Galtung to be published by PRIO. See the original on The Transnational here and the same article on TFF Substack with many general and critical comments and, in particular, the people who decided to withdraw from the biography project in protest. The special issue itself was extraordinary. It was devoted to the intellectual legacy of one of the founders of peace research and contained a number of strong assessments of his personality, scholarship, intellectual trajectory, and public role. Such assessments are, of course, entirely legitimate. No scholar is beyond criticism, and neither was Johan Galtung....
Screenshot 2026-10-26 115647
TFF global posts 2026
Iran’s peace research and peace museum
An aspect of Iran’s culture and civilisation you’ve probably never heard about. Don’t be surprised if the US and Israel also try to bomb them. Jan ObergTFF director October 26, 2026 Today – under the “USraeli” threat of new “annihilating” bombings – opens the 7th International Conference on Peace and Conflict Resolution at Tehran’s University. As far as I can tell, this is the only permanent, advanced peace research institution in West Asia/the Middle East. Perhaps more countries in that region could be inspired? I mean, how many military “security” institutes and military academies do they have? Many peace research institutes and university departments have been established since the 1950s in the West. They are now all under attack; some have closed down, some have gone mainstream, yet others kept the name but do nothing to research peace and disseminate results or advice; instead, they cooperate with militarism’s platforms such...
Screenshot 2026-10-15 141837
AI for peace
Peace is cheaper, more moral and smarter – AI sees it, HI doesn’t
Let’s discuss using AI to create peace – in contrast to boring geopolitics devoid of creative healing and visions. Jan Oberg TFF director October 15, 2026 I asked VEED to create a short video exemplifying how peace is preferable to war, then chose the lady as a template. Simple as that. In less than a minute, it produced this video, which any peace-loving person would appreciate. The only problem is that human intelligence (HI), at least the one that exists among Western decision-makers, isn’t half as moral or smart as AI. I have used AI to dialogue about peace and peace plans, creative conflict resolution and visions of a better future for humankind. It so happens that I am having more stimulating, intelligent, creative and moral discussions with AI than I could possibly have with any EU or NATO leader today. Yes, AI has very problematic and dangerous aspects; used...
girl-5894831_1280
TFF PressInfo
✅ TFF Share Blog, News & Notes from 2021 till today
Below are TFF-related media mentions, comments, videos and social media posts published elsewhere but not on this homepage. We happen to catch and list only a fraction. Regarding video comments and debates, we recommend that you go to the TFF Video Channel on Substack where many of them are reproduced. Jan Oberg is a contributor to China Daily – 52 million daily clicks – and Global Times, CGTN and CCTV (the national television), China Investment, Xinhua News Agency and several others. Articles and videos on these media very often multiply into countless Chinese (and Western media) that re-post them from these main media. Thanks to The China Academy, his analyses, interviews and comments are frequently posted on YouTube channels such as Thinkers Forum and Wave Media. These videos are often re-posted on Bilibili (China’s YouTube), the China Content Center on TikTok, and on the Chinese edition of TikTok, Douyin.com. This means reaching hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide over a year. While there are too many to catch on all these...