Burundi People

Political parties: Multi-party system consisting of 21 registered political parties, of which FRODEBU (the Front for Democracy in Burundi, predominantly Hutu with some Tutsi membership) and UPRONA (the National Unity and Progress Party, predominantly Tutsi with some Hutu membership) are national, mainstream parties. Other Tutsi and Hutu opposition parties and groups include, among others, PARENA (the Party for National Redress, Tutsi), ABASA (the Burundi African Alliance for the Salvation, Tutsi), PRP (the People's Reconciliation Party, Tutsi), CNDD (the National Council for the Defense of Democracy, Hutu), PALIPEHUTU (the Party for the Liberation of the Hutu People, Hutu) and FROLINA/FAP (the Front for the National Liberation of Burundi/Popular Armed Forces, Hutu). ... [Read More]

Burundi Elections

The United States congratulates the people of Burundi for the peaceful, orderly and dignified exercise of their democratic right to vote in the July 4 legislative elections. ... [Read More]

Burundi: Cease-fire Agreement with the Forces for the Defense of Democracy

The United States welcomes the cease-fire agreement reached today by the Government of the Republic of Burundi and the Forces for the Defense of Democracy faction led by Pierre Nkurunziza. This agreement is a significant step towards a comprehensive peace for the people of Burundi, as their country continues its transition to democracy under the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Accords signed in August 2000. We recognize the courage, responsibility and leadership shown by Burundian President Pierre Buyoya and Chairman Pierre Nkurunziza of the Forces for the Defense of Democracy (FDD). ... [Read More]

Burundi

The country remained engaged in an armed conflict between the Government and the Party for the Liberation of the Hutu People/National Liberation Front (PALIPEHUTU-FNL) led by Agathon Rwasa. Government forces were aided in this conflict by fighters of the National Council for Defense of Democracy–Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD), a former rebel group. The security situation improved markedly in most parts of the country after the CNDD-FDD joined the Transitional Government in November 2003. However, in Bujumbura Rural Province, which surrounds the capital and was the stronghold of the PALIPEHUTU-FNL, fighting continued. Human rights violations resulting from the conflict continued to occur, primarily in Bujumbura Rural. The judicial system continued to be corrupt, subject to political manipulation, and inefficient. ... [Read More]

Burundi: Massacre at Gatumba Refugee Camp

The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the attack that took place on Gatumba refugee camp in Burundi on August 13, 2004.  Armed elements, including the  National Liberation Front of the Party for the Liberation of the Hutu People, participated in this vicious attack on an already vulnerable population of refugees, many of them women and children.  We extend our condolences to the families of the victims and to the Congolese government and people. ... [Read More]

US Department Of State Post Report

The official American community is limited to the U.S. Mission, about 110 people. There are a dozen or so missionaries and about 30 Peace Corps volunteers. Little tourism means that few Americans visit Bujumbura, though the Embassy does receive a number of official visitors. The Post and Its AdministrationLast Updated:  12/3/2003 1:54 PM  ... [Read More]

V. Country Narratives -- Countries A through G

The Peoples’ Republic of China is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation. A significant number of Chinese women and children are trafficked internally for forced marriage and forced labor. Chinese women are at times lured abroad with false promises of legitimate employment and then trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation to destinations throughout Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and North America, while Chinese men have been trafficked for forced labor to Europe, South America, and the Middle East. A large number of Chinese men and women are smuggled abroad at enormous personal financial cost and, upon arrival in the destination country, are subjected to commercial sexual exploitation or other forms of exploitative labor to repay their debts. They often face exploitative conditions that meet t ... [Read More]

Burundi

Indigenous People ...

Many of the persons arrested on criminal charges since 1993 remained in pretrial custody. According to the Ministry of Justice, 4,481 prisoners were awaiting trial. There were 400 communal lockups where those who were arrested were supposed to be held no longer than 1 week; however, in practice, detainees were regularly kept in these facilities for much longer periods of time. Family members were required to provide all food for these detainees. Once detainees were transferred to larger detention facilities, the Government provided food. The law does not provide for forced exile, and the Transitional Government did not use it as a means of political control; however, many persons remained in self-imposed exile in Belgium, Kenya, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and elsewhere. e. Denial of Fair Public Trial The Transitional Constitution provides for an independe ... [Read More]

Peace and Security - US Department of State

U.S. Decries "Cowardly Massacre" in Democratic Republic of CongoCalls on Rwandan rebels, other foreign militias to disarm and withdrawWashington - In the wake of a "brutal and cowardly massacre of civilians" in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DROC) July 9, the State Department issued a statement July 13 calling on Rwandan rebel forces operating in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to disarm and repatriate immediately, and for other armed militia forces to disarm," to permit re-establishment of secure and stable conditions throughout the Democratic Republic of the Congo under the authority and control of that nation's government."  (complet ... [Read More]

Daily Press Briefing for July 6 -- Transcript

QUESTION: For your position. The defense of human rights and freedom in the Middle East is very high on the American agenda in the Middle East. I've got to address this question to you and see your reaction, and many people are waiting to see your reaction, concerning the human rights of the Golan Heights people. A father, his young kids, girls and boys, are defending their land, their farm today at the gate of their farm where they have been kicked out. Their farm was given to a high intelligence officer, Israeli officer. And they are determined, even if they die at the gate, that they're going to defend it. So this is a violation of human rights or Geneva Convention for civilians and their occupation and this is just part of what's going on in their daily life on the human rights violations against the Golan Heights people by the Israelis authorities. Could you please address this human rights subject when it comes to the people and their occupation in the Golan H ... [Read More]