About This Report
Pursuit of Power
June 3, 2009

Pursuit of Power

Political Violence and Repression in Burundi

Glossary of Terms and Acronyms
Map of Burundi
I. Summary
II. Methodology
III. Recommendations
To the Government of Burundi
To the FNL
To Burundian Political Parties
To the United Nations
To International Actors Involved in the Peace Process
To Donor Governments
IV. Background
Long Road to Peace
Provisional Immunity
Electoral Stakes
V. Settling of Scores: Human Rights Abuses in the Power Struggle between CNDD-FDD and the FNL
Case Study 1: Violence in and around Bujumbura, January-March 2008
Case Study 2: FNL Attacks, Arbitrary Arrests, and Ill-Treatment by the Government in Response
Case Study 3: Violence in Kayogoro Commune, Makamba Province, December 2008 to January 2009
Case Study 4: Violence in Nyamurenza Commune, Ngozi Province, January 2009
Case Study 5: Violence in Nyabikere commune, Karusi Province, March 2008 and January 2009
VI. FNL Abuses: Repression as Political Strategy
Armed Attacks on Dissident Combatants as “Self-Defense”
Abductions and Attacks on Civilians
Killings and Abductions of JPH Members Suspected of Dissent
Abuses by Alleged FNL Dissidents
VII. Government Repression of Democratic Political Opposition
Abuse of the Judicial System against Opponents
Grenade Attacks on Parliamentary Opposition Members
Expulsion of Opposition Parliamentarians
Mass Arrests of Political Opponents
VIII. State-Sanctioned Political Intimidation by CNDD-FDD Youth Groups
IX. The Reaction of Authorities
Reaction to Abuses Attributed to State Agents and CNDD-FDD Members
Reaction to Abuses Committed By FNL Members and Dissidents
X. Role of International Stakeholders
Annex 1: Politically-Motivated Killings/Attacks by Firearm or Grenade, January 2008-April 2009
Annex 2: Arrests Believed to be Politically-Motivated, July 2008-April 2009
Acknowledgements