Burundi
Burundi exhibits low-range performance across all four categories of the Global State of Democracy framework, falling among the world’s bottom 25 per cent of countries in the majority of factors of democratic performance. Over the last five years, it has experienced advances in the Rule of Law as well as in Access to Justice and Freedom of the Press, although they all remain in the low-range band of performance. The country suffers from a poorly diversified economy, with 80 per cent of the population employed in agriculture.
In 1890, modern day Burundi and Rwanda were incorporated into the German Protectorate of East Africa; this territory was conceded to Belgium when Germany lost its colonies following World War I. Colonial rule was marked by apartheid-like conditions favouring the Tutsi ethnic group, which created politicized cleavages between the Hutus and Tutsis. Modern Burundi, which gained independence in 1962, is ruled by the National Council for the Defense of Democracy–Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) – a rebel-movement (during the 1993-2005 Burundian Civil War) turned political party. Politics are characterized by generalized repression of the opposition, state capture by a narrow (CNDD-FDD dominant) elite, and waves of violence, often expressed along ethnic lines.
Ethnically-based conflict over access to resources has included 12 years of civil war (1993-2005) and four episodes of violent massacres (in 1965, 1977, 1988, and 1993). In 2005, power-sharing was enshrined in the Arusha agreement and a new constitution. Though ethnic violence has decreased, state-perpetrated violence and serious human rights violations mar the political landscape. Today, the main political fault lines are based on party affiliation, with both Hutus and Tutsis in the ranks of both the government and opposition. Notably, however, the CNDD–FDD remains firmly in control, having almost entirely co-opted the country’s institutions. This co-optation, which has resulted in serious limits to power-sharing, motivated the 2015 coup attempt and the 2015-2018 protests. The regime’s violent response led to international isolation and sanctions. In recent years, the CNDD-FDD system has made some concessions amid efforts at international re-engagement. Yet, the political context remains relatively closed. The 2018 constitution expanded presidential power and intimidation campaigns, especially by the Imbonerakure (the CNDD-FDD youth wing), continue. The political climate remains highly intolerant of dissent, and much of the opposition is in exile.
Burundi is composed of three main ethnic groups: the Hutus (85 per cent), Tutsis (14 per cent) and Twa (Batwa) (1 per cent). The Twa, descended from the original forest-dwelling inhabitants of Burundi, are mostly landless and economically marginalized. Reserved parliamentary seats exist for the Twa. Though a constitutional gender quota has helped bolster women’s political representation and legal protections from sexual violence and exploitation of women and girls exist, discriminatory laws and traditional practices persist. Women also lack control over economic resources. Same-sex sexual activity has been criminalised since 2009.
Looking ahead, it will be important to watch the loosening of some restrictions on the civic space, including the lifting of media bans, as this might impact Rights. It will also be important to watch the moves to eliminate ethnic quotas, which may mark the end of the last vestiges of the Arusha Agreement. The divisions within the CNDD-FDD, which are reported to have deepened in response to the reform agenda, highlight the country’s continued political fragility.
Monthly Event Reports
December 2023 | Rebel group RED-Tabara kills civilians in attack near border
The RED-Tabara (Resistance for the Rule of Law in Burundi), rebel group launched two attacks on Burundian soil in December: one an engagement with the Burundian military and the other an attack on a village near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (where the group is based). In the latter attack, 20 people were reportedly killed, 19 of whom were civilians, including 12 children. These were the first attacks by the group in Burundi since 2021. RED-Tabara opposes the government of Évariste Ndayishimiye, and is alleged to be connected to the opposition party Movement for Solidarity and Development (MSD). The attacks also increased the level of tensions between Burundi and neighbouring Rwanda, after Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye directly accused Rwanda of materially supporting the RED-Tabara group.
June 2023 | Burundi’s main opposition party suspended
On 6 June, Burundi’s Minister of Interior, Martin Niteretse announced that his office had suspended the country’s main opposition party, the National Freedom Council (CNL). In a letter communicating the decision to the CNL, the Minister cited ‘irregularities’ during two recent party congresses, in which several CNL members were ousted from the party over their opposition to its President. In May, Niteretse had challenged the decisions taken during the congresses, on the grounds that they had not been conducted in compliance with the party’s statutes and had demanded that the CNL’s president unite with its ousted members. The CNL, however, alleged the suspension was an unconstitutional interference in its affairs and an attempt to destabilise the party ahead of the 2025 legislative elections. Shortly after the suspension was announced, at least 16 CNL activists were reported to have been arbitrarily arrested and detained on spurious charges of holding an illegal meeting. The ruling party has long used Burundi’s police force to repress opposition party activists, but civil society monitors said the situation had deteriorated since the CNL’s suspension.
March 2023 | 24 people charged with ‘homosexual practices’ under anti-LGBTQIA+ law
A Burundian court has charged 24 people with ‘homosexual practices and incitement to homosexual practices’ under a law that criminalises same-sex sexual activity and prescribes prison sentences of up to two years for those who breach its provisions. According to human rights organisation ACAT-Burundi, all of those charged had been arrested whilst attending a seminar run by an NGO working to combat HIV/AIDS. It also reported that after their arrest, the 24 were interrogated for ten days before being charged and will remain in prison until their trial. Reports from LGBTQIA+ organisations suggest that since the law came into force in 2009, it has been infrequently enforced, with charges rare. Successive Burundian governments have, however, ignored calls from human rights actors to repeal the law, including from the UN Human Rights Committee, which found that it discriminates against LGBTQIA+ people, contrary to the country’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
December 2022 | Human Rights Lawyer Tony Germain Nkina Acquitted
On 20 December, Tony Germain Nkina, a lawyer and former employee of a leading Burundian human rights organization, was acquitted of all charges by the appeal court of Ngozi. The lawyer and human rights activist had been arrested on 13 October 2020 and accused of collaborating with rebel movements. Human Rights Watch noted that it was “a rare instance of judicial independence in Burundi.” Even though the prosecutor first chose not to sign the release order and intended to file an appeal to the Supreme Court, Mr Nkina was freed from prison on 27 December. The case was then sent back to the Ngozi Court of Appeal, which cleared him at the end of 2022.
Explore past monthly event reports
GSoD Indices Data 2013-2022
Basic Information
Human Rights Treaties
Global State of Democracy Indices
Hover over the trend lines to see the exact data points across the years
Factors of Democratic Performance Over Time
Use the slider below to see how democratic performance has changed over time