USAID/OTI Burundi Field Report
October 2005
Program Description
The Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) supports the ongoing peace process in Burundi as outlined in the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement by strengthening local capacities to benefit from and contribute to the peace process. PADCO Inc., the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and the national nongovernmental organization African Strategic Impact implement OTI's Community-Based Peace and Reconciliation Initiative (CPRI) and manage CPRI's field offices in Gitega and Ruyigi Provinces. CPRI's four components - the Community-Based Leadership Program, Vocational Skills Training, Community Initiatives and media - strengthen local-level cooperation for conflict mitigation, help diverse groups generate non-farm income, and increase knowledge and participation in public dialogue on current issues. The four programs work closely with community groups, government entities, media outlets, nongovernmental organizations, international organizations, and other USAID offices to maximize the positive outcomes of their efforts. Since February 2004, OTI has invested $4,590,638 in these activities through 245 small grants.
Country Situation
A split in the National Forces of Liberation (FNL) – It is said that Agathon Rwasa, the traditional leader of the Palipehutu-FNL, left Tanzania for South Kivu Province in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following an alleged split of the FNL into two branches on Oct. 8, one headed by Rwasa, the other by Jean Bosco Sindayigaya. It is too early to confirm whether Rwasa has been overthrown by Sindayigaya. From the DRC, Rwasa could potentially develop stronger ties with combatants of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) for joint military operations. During a meeting on Oct. 17 to tackle the Rwandan refugee issue, Rwandan and Burundian interior ministers agreed to put into place joint security measures and mechanisms to prevent an FNL-FDLR coalition from compromising the security in these two countries.
President Pierre Nkurunziza issues an ultimatum to the FNL – Peace talks expected between the Burundian government and the FNL have been postponed due to political turmoil within the FNL movement. On Oct. 29, during his visit to the commune of Mubimbi in Rural Bujumbura Province, President Nkurunziza issued a two-month ultimatum to the FNL, after which, he said, the lack of a negotiated solution would result in drastic measures against the movement. The Tanzanian government remains the only regional power able to exert significant pressure on the FNL to stop hostilities.
FNL violence – During October, the Palipehutu-FNL conducted isolated attacks in Rural Bujumbura and Bubanza Provinces, where 30 people are reported to have been killed and where houses were looted and burned. Security also has been compromised in the capital, Bujumbura, where FNL troops have attacked northern communes, such as Kamenge and Kinama.
Movement within opposition political parties – Leonce Ngendakumana became the new chairman of the Burundian Democratic Front (FRODEBU) political party after serving as the party's secretary general under former President Domitien Ndayizeye. The decision was made on Oct. 29, during an extraordinary congress convened to end internal political squabbling within the party. The Unity for National Progress (UPRONA) political party is also facing a challenge over leadership. Oscar Toyi is leading a 500-member dissident group demanding that the current UPRONA chairman, Jean Baptiste Manwangari, step down.
Leadership change at the National Demobilization Secretariat – Following a demonstration of ex-combatants in Bujumbura at the National Demobilization Secretariat on Oct. 10, the leaders of the secretariat were removed from their positions. The new executive secretary is Brigadier Gen. Silas Ntigurirwa. The former team is alleged to have mismanaged funds allocated to demobilized soldiers. Gen. Ntigurirwa stated that no cash would be provided to the demobilized soldiers. Instead, the secretariat will provide material assistance.
Government officials at work for grassroots communities - In a new initiative, President Nkurunziza fostered a government outreach program between top officials and grassroots communities. Since his inauguration, President Nkurunziza has visited seven provinces, including his home province of Ngozi to chair a meeting of the Communal Council. All officials have been touring the country to meet with citizens to discuss problems and to communicate government policy. President Nkurunziza also instituted a plan in which each province is assigned a government minister, not native to the province, to manage all affairs related to security and stability.
USAID/OTI Highlights
A. Narrative Summary
During October, the Office of Transition Initiatives announced that the Community-Based Peace and Reconciliation Initiative (CPRI) will be extended until June 30, 2006. The communities benefiting from the program welcome the continued intervention during the post-election period. Government officials have similarly applauded the extension, with several governors requesting that the program be extended beyond the current geographic coverage.
Implementing partner PADCO/Burundi has been actively meeting with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Communications in order to extend the existing protocols signed between PADCO and the respective ministries. The announced program extension necessitates revisions in all agreements.
The CPRI media team organized and hosted a media event in partnership with the U.S. Embassy that brought together 60 representatives of media, civil society and government. From Oct. 26 to Oct. 28, a workshop was held in Gitega Province on the theme of "Media, Government, Public Institutions and Civil Society." Emphasis was placed on developing constructive relationships between the groups in the framework of the post-transition period in Burundi. The minister of good governance and the charge d'affaires from the U.S. Embassy opened the event.
B. Grant Activity Summary
C. Indicators of Success
OTI Fostering Links Between Citizens and Newly Elected Officials
The Community-Based Peace and Reconciliation Initiative in Burundi compiled output indicators over the course of the program. Now, as the program approaches the final stages, these indicators reflect tremendous impact achieved on the ground. Following are some examples:
- In the media component, 1,412 programs have been produced with partner radio stations, RSF Bonesha, and the national station RTNB.
- Over 130 hours of radio programming were dedicated to elections coverage during the political transition period.
- The Community-Based Leadership Program component of CPRI has trained over 6,000 people. These community leaders work on the ground throughout 18 communes in Burundi diffusing local conflicts.
- The Vocational Skills Training component of CPRI has trained approximately 3,000 students. Among these, a high percentage are demobilized ex-combatants, returnees and internally displaced persons. One source of conflict in Burundi is the limited amount of available land. The Vocational Skills Training component attempts to mitigate this conflict by encouraging students to gain skills in sectors other than farming.
NEXT STEPS/IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES
The Community-Based Peace and Reconciliation Initiative will now focus on developing the final grants prior to entering a close-out phase in early 2006. Concretely, all eight Vocational Skills Training grants will be prepared and submitted during November for approval. PADCO is keen to move forward with media programming and anticipates working closely with OTI to develop appropriate grants that reflect a new media strategy.
As the CPRI program is extended beyond the initial close date, new protocols will need to be negotiated with the government in Burundi. Specifically, the protocol with the Ministry of Education regulating the relationship for the use of the Vocational Skills Training schools must be amended. Simultaneously, a new protocol with the Ministry of Communications will need to be developed. PADCO has begun this task; OTI will also revise its protocols with the respective partner ministries.
PADCO will add to the monitoring and evaluation work completed in October on the Vocational Skills Training, Community-Based Leadership Program, and Community Initiatives grants to include outcome indicators on the media grants.
For further information, please contact:
In Washington, D.C.: Donna Kerner, Operations Coordinator, 202-712-0716, dkerner@usaid.gov
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