Editing History of Burundi (section)

== Post-war (2005–present)==

=== Post-war elections ===
In 2005, Burundi began the transition towards peace with its [[2005 Burundian legislative election|first elections]] since [[1993 Burundian presidential election|1993]]. The [[National Council for the Defense of Democracy – Forces for the Defense of Democracy|CNDD-FDD]] won both the [[2005 Burundian communal elections|local]] and [[2005 Burundian legislative election|legislative]] elections, held in June and July respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Indirect Legislative Elections in Sub-Saharan Africa|url=https://africanelections.tripod.com/indirect.html|access-date=2021-01-18|website=africanelections.tripod.com}}</ref> An indirect presidential election took place in August 2005, and the members of the legislature and senate elected [[Pierre Nkurunziza]], a former teacher and CNDD rebel, who had been president of the CNDD-FDD party since August 2000.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2005-08-26|title=Burundi's born-again ex-rebel leader|language=en-GB|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4162504.stm|access-date=2021-01-18}}</ref> He won with 151 of the 161 votes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Recent Elections Archive: 2005|url=https://africanelections.tripod.com/recent2005.html|access-date=2021-01-18|website=africanelections.tripod.com}}</ref>

=== Nkurunziza era (2005–2020) ===
Peacetime ushered in an era in which the ruling CNDD-FDD party dominated the political space in Burundi. President Pierre Nkurunziza, and a small clique of military generals from the party, tightly controlled the country.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Burundi {{!}} Crisis24|url=https://crisis24.garda.com/country-reports/burundi|access-date=2021-01-18|website=crisis24.garda.com}}</ref>

In 2005, [[Pierre Nkurunziza]], became the first post-transitional president. He was elected by the National Assembly and Senate through the means of indirect presidential elections.

Former President [[Domitien Ndayizeye]] and his political supporters were arrested in 2006 and accused of plotting a coup, but later he was acquitted by the Supreme Court. International human rights groups claimed that the current government was framing [[Domitien Ndayizeye]] by torturing him into false confessions of a coup plot.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2006-08-25|title=Former president's arrest seen as part of pattern of abuse|url=https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2006/08/25/former-presidents-arrest-seen-part-pattern-abuse|access-date=2021-01-22|website=The New Humanitarian|language=en}}</ref> In December 2006 the [[International Crisis Group]] labeled Burundi's human rights status as "deteriorating". The organization reported that the government had arrested critics, muzzled the press, committed human rights abuses, and tightened its control over the economy, and that "unless it [reversed] this authoritarian course, it risk[ed] triggering violent unrest and losing the gains of peace process."<ref>{{cite web|date=2006-11-30|title=Burundi: Democracy and Peace at Risk|url=http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=4553&l=1|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418145649/http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?l=1&id=4553|archive-date=April 18, 2009|access-date=2009-06-29|publisher=[[International Crisis Group]]}}</ref>

In February 2007, the [[United Nations]] officially shut down its [[United Nations Operation in Burundi|peacekeeping operations in Burundi]] and turned its attention to rebuilding the nation's economy, which relies heavily on tea and coffee, but which had suffered severely during 12 years of civil war. The UN had deployed 5,600 peacekeepers since 2004, and several hundred troops remained to work with the [[African Union]] in monitoring the [[ceasefire]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=United Nations Security Council Resolution 1719 (2006)|url=https://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/RES/1719(2006)|access-date=2021-01-22|website=www.un.org}}</ref> The UN Post Conflict Fund (PBF) pledged $35 million to Burundi to work on infrastructure, to promote democratic practices, to rebuild the military, and to defend [[human rights]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=INDEPENDENT EXTERNAL EVALUATION PEACEBUILDING FUND PROJECTS IN BURUNDI - Burundi|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/burundi/independent-external-evaluation-peacebuilding-fund-projects-burundi|access-date=2021-01-22|website=ReliefWeb|date=31 March 2010 |language=en}}</ref>

==== 2010 elections ====
{{Main|2010 Burundian presidential election}}
Nkurunziza was [[Burundian presidential election, 2010|re-elected in 2010]] with more than 91% of the votes amidst an opposition boycott<ref name="AFP-20100701">{{cite news
|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hHl55epxpc6OXNZIfZR2cUw95iLw
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110123221627/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hHl55epxpc6OXNZIfZR2cUw95iLw
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=January 23, 2011
|title=AFP: Burundi's president Pierre Nkurunziza re-elected
|date=1 July 2010
|work=[[Agence France-Presse]]
|access-date=4 July 2010}}</ref> and sworn in for his second term on 26 August 2010.<ref>[http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90777/90855/7119208.html "Re-elected Burundian president takes oath as African leaders present"], Xinhua, 26 August 2010.</ref>

==== 2015 unrest ====
{{Main|2015 Burundi unrest}}
In April 2015, Nkurunziza announced that he would seek a third term in office. The opposition said that Nkurunziza's bid to extend his term was in defiance of the constitution, as it bars the president from running for a third term. However, Nkurunziza's allies said his first term did not count as he was appointed by parliament and not directly by the people. On April 26 [[Burundian unrest|police clashed with demonstrators]] protesting Nkurunziza's announcement that he would seek a third term in office. At least six people were killed in the first two days of ongoing protests. The government shut down multiple radio stations and arrested a prominent civil society leader, [[Pierre-Claver Mbonimpa]]. UN Secretary-General [[Ban Ki-moon]] said, in a statement, that he had despatched his special envoy for the region, Said Djinnit, to Burundi for talks with Nkurunziza. [[African Union]] commission head [[Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma]] said she welcomed a decision by [[Senate (Burundi)|Burundi's Senate]] to ask the Constitutional Court to rule whether Nkurunziza could stand for re-election. More than 24,000 people  fled Burundi in April, as tensions mounted ahead of presidential elections in June, the UN refugee agency said.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2015/04/28/what-explains-burundis-protests/ What explains Burundi’s protests?]</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-32496088 Burundi anti-President Nkurunziza protests in Bujumbura]</ref>

On May 13, 2015, [[Military of Burundi|Burundi army]] General Godefroid Niyombareh, former head of Burundian intelligence, [[Burundian unrest|declared a coup]] via radio while Nkurunziza was abroad attending a summit in [[Tanzania]] with other African leaders. Niyombareh had been fired by the President in February. Despite reports that gunshots had been heard and people were celebrating in the streets of the capital, government officials dismissed the threat and claimed to remain in control.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Melvin|first1=Don|date=May 13, 2015|title=Amid fears of ethnic violence, coup attempt reported in Burundi|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/13/africa/burundi-coup-attempt/|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=13 May 2015}}</ref>

Opposition groups announced on 26 June that they would boycott the election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-burundi-politics-idUSKBN0P60X520150626|title=Burundi crisis escalates as opposition boycotts elections|work=Reuters|date=26 June 2015|last1=Manirabarusha|first1=Clement}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/burundi-crisis-escalates-as-opposition-boycotts-elections-775623|title=Burundi Crisis Escalates as Opposition Boycotts Elections|date=26 June 2015|work=NDTV.com}}</ref>

Speaking to a Kenyan television station on 6 July, one of the coup leaders, General [[Leonard Ngendakumana]], called for armed rebellion against Nkurunziza. He said that his group was responsible for the grenade attacks and said that "our intent is to intensify".<ref>Fumbuka Ng'wanakilala, [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-burundi-politics-idUSKCN0PG1OE20150706 "Burundi coup general says force only way to oust president"], Reuters, 6 July 2015.</ref> Fighting was reported in northern Burundi on 10&ndash;11 July.<ref name=Gunmen>Clement Manirabarusha, [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-burundi-politics-idUSKCN0PM0EV20150712 "Gunmen captured, killed by Burundi army in clashes in north: governor"], Reuters, 12 July 2015.</ref> The military said on 13 July that 31 rebels had been killed and 170 had been captured in those battles; it said that six of its own soldiers had also been wounded. The Burundian government stated that the rebels had crossed into northern Burundi through the [[Nyungwe Forest]] from [[Rwanda]] but the Rwandan government denied this.<ref>Gerard Nzohabona, [https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/burundi-military-31-suspected-rebels-killed-fighting-32417981 "Burundi military: 31 suspected rebels killed in fighting"], Associated Press, 13 July 2015.</ref> Ngendakumana said that the rebels were from his group.<ref name=Gunmen/>

Shortly after [[Burundian presidential election, 2015|the election]] was held on 21 July, without the participation of the opposition, main opposition leader [[Agathon Rwasa]] proposed the formation of a national unity government, while warning of the potential for more violence and armed rebellion against Nkurunziza. As conditions for participating in such a government, Rwasa said that Nkurunziza's third term would need to be greatly truncated to no more than a year and new elections would have to be held, although he admitted that he doubted Nkurunziza would accept those conditions. He also urged those hoping to oust Nkurunziza through violence to instead focus on dialogue. The government welcomed the idea of forming a national unity government, but rejected the notion of truncating Nkurunziza's new term.<ref>Clement Manirabarusha and Edmund Blair, [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-burundi-politics-opposition-idUSKCN0PW1E020150722 "Burundi opposition leader calls for unity government to avert conflict"], Reuters, 22 July 2015.</ref>

The presidential election results were announced on 24 July 2015. Nkurunziza won the election with 69.41% of the vote. [[Agathon Rwasa]] was placed second and credited with 18.99% despite calling for a boycott.<ref name="ret24">[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-burundi-election-results-idUSKCN0PY1TN20150724 "Nkurunziza wins third term as Burundi president: electoral commission"], Reuters, 24 July 2015.</ref> This change of power led to an opening of social science research in the country, and later a reconsideration of the value and purpose of that research within the context of the larger political and societal violence.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Curtis |first=Devon E. A. |date=2019 |title=What Is Our Research For? Responsibility, Humility and the Production of Knowledge about Burundi |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/45217069 |journal=Africa Spectrum |volume=54 |issue=1 |pages=4–21 |doi=10.1177/0002039719852229 |jstor=45217069 |issn=0002-0397}}</ref>

On 30 September 2016, the [[United Nations Human Rights Council]] established the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi through resolution 33/24. Its mandate is to "conduct a thorough investigation into human rights violations and abuses committed in Burundi since April 2015, to identify alleged perpetrators and to formulate recommendations."<ref>{{cite web|title=OHCHR - Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Burundi|url=http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/CoIBurundi/Pages/CoIBurundi.aspx|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011072710/http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/CoIBurundi/Pages/CoIBurundi.aspx|archive-date=11 October 2017|access-date=10 October 2017|website=www.ohchr.org}}</ref> The Human Rights Council extended the mandate of the commission for another year in September 2017. On 29 September 2017 the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi called on Burundian government to put an end to serious [[human rights violations]]. It further stressed that, "The Burundian government has so far refused to cooperate with the Commission of Inquiry, despite the Commission's repeated requests and initiatives."<ref name="ohchr.org2">{{cite web|title=OHCHR - Commission calls on Burundian government to put an end to serious human rights violations|url=http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=22184&LangID=E|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011021822/http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=22184&LangID=E|archive-date=11 October 2017|access-date=10 October 2017|website=www.ohchr.org}}</ref> The Commission conducted interviews with more than 500 Burundian refugees abroad and others who remained in their country and reached the conclusion that "serious human rights violations and abuses have been committed in Burundi since April 2015. The violations the Commission documented include [[Arrests|arbitrary arrests]] and detentions, acts of [[torture]] and cruel, [[inhuman or degrading treatment]], [[extrajudicial execution]]s, [[enforced disappearances]], [[rape]] and other forms of sexual violence."<ref name="ohchr.org2"/>

==== Post-2015 ====
In a [[2018 Burundian constitutional referendum|constitutional referendum]] in May 2018, Burundians voted by 79.08% to approve an amended constitution that ensured that Nkurunziza could remain in power until 2034.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Moore|first=Jina|date=2018-05-17|title=In Tiny Burundi, a Huge Vote (Published 2018)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/17/world/africa/burundi-referendum-vote.html|access-date=2021-01-08|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Amendments to constitution of Burundi approved: electoral commission - Xinhua {{!}} English.news.cn|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-05/22/c_137195886.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522112315/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-05/22/c_137195886.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 22, 2018|access-date=2021-01-08|website=www.xinhuanet.com}}</ref> However, much to the surprise of most observers, Nkurunziza later announced that he did not intend to serve another term, paving the way for a new president to be elected in the [[2020 Burundian general election|2020 General Election]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Dahir|first=Abdi Latif|date=2020-06-09|title=President of Burundi, Pierre Nkurunziza, 55, Dies of Heart Attack|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/09/world/africa/burundi-president-pierre-nkurunziza-dead.html|access-date=2021-01-08|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

On 24 December 2018, the government moved Burundi's political capital from [[Bujumbura]] back to [[Gitega]], where it had been until 1966.

The threat of the COVID-19 pandemic was played down officially by the regime. The Presidency issued a statement which warned its population against "hasty, extreme, unilateral measures" against the virus.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Burundi|first=Republique de la|date=25 February 2020|title=COMMUNIQUE DU GOUVERNEMENT DE LA REPUBLIQUE DU BURUNDI DANS LE CADRE DE LA LUTTE CONTRE LE CORONA VIRUS.|url=https://www.presidence.gov.bi/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Coronavirus-communiqu%C3%A9.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.presidence.gov.bi/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Coronavirus-communiqu%C3%A9.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|access-date=8 March 2021}}</ref> [[Human Rights Watch]] reported that some nurses had been told "not to talk about suspected cases, symptom patterns, or insufficient resources".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-03-04|title=Health Workers: Heroes, Yes, But They Need Our Support|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/03/04/health-workers-heroes-yes-they-need-our-support|access-date=2021-03-08|website=Human Rights Watch|language=en}}</ref>

=== Post-Nkurunziza (2020–present) ===
On 20 May 2020, [[Évariste Ndayishimiye]], a candidate who was hand-picked as Nkurunziza's successor by the CNDD-FDD, won the election with 71.45% of the vote.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Who is Burundi's new president, Evariste Ndayishimiye?|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/6/18/evariste-ndayishimiye-who-is-burundis-new-president|access-date=2021-01-08|website=www.aljazeera.com|language=en}}</ref> Shortly after, on 9 June 2020, Nkurunziza died of a cardiac arrest, at the age of 55.<ref name=":0" /> There was some speculation that his death was COVID-19 related, though this is unconfirmed.<ref>{{Cite news|last=correspondent|first=Jason Burke Africa|date=2020-06-09|title=Burundi president dies of illness suspected to be coronavirus|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/09/burundi-president-dies-illness-suspected-coronavirus-pierre-nkurunziz|access-date=2021-03-08|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> As per the constitution, [[Pascal Nyabenda]], the president of the national assembly, led the government until Ndayishimiye's inauguration on 18 June 2020.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

Initially, Ndayishimiye adopted a stronger response to the COVID-19 pandemic  than his predecessor - calling the virus the nation's "worst enemy" shortly after taking office.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Burundi closes borders again as COVID-19 cases on the rise|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/burundi-closes-borders-covid-19-cases-rise-75132749|access-date=2021-03-08|website=ABC News|language=en}}</ref> In January 2021, he closed national borders, having previously issued a statement which said that anyone bringing Covid into Burundi would be treated as "people bringing weapons to kill Burundians".<ref name=":2" /> In February 2021, however, Burundi joined Tanzania in being the only African nations to reject vaccines from the COVAX scheme: the health minister Thaddee Ndikumana stated that “since more than 95% of patients are recovering, we estimate that the vaccines are not yet necessary.” <ref>{{Cite web|title=Tanzania, Burundi not to get COVID-19 vaccine doses|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/tanzania-burundi-not-to-get-covid-19-vaccine-doses/2135487|access-date=2021-03-08|website=www.aa.com.tr}}</ref> As of June 2021, Burundi has still not made any effort to procure vaccines - one of three countries to fail to take this step.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Three Vaccine Holdouts Imperil the World|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2021-05-27/three-vaccine-holdouts-imperil-the-world|access-date=2021-06-14|newspaper=Bloomberg|date=27 May 2021 }}</ref>