AFRICA/BURUNDI - Burundi: parties and guerrilla movements. INFO

Rome (Fides Service)- As announced, to better understand the political situation in Burundi we offer detailed information on political parties and guerrilla movements in that country

Political Parties

UPRONA (Union Pour le Progres National): established in 1961. The only lawful party from 1961 to 1993. In 1993 a multi-party system and free elections were introduced. In 1998 this party split with regard participation at peace talks in Arusha, (Tanzania). From the start UPRONA has been pro-Tutsi

FRODEBU (pro Hutu) (Front Pour la Democratie au Burundi): established 1992, FRODEBU is the main Hutu party; won multi-party elections in 1993 (the first in Burundi) leader Melchior Ndadaye became first Hutu President of Burundi. The assassination of Ndadaye provoked a civil war from which the country is struggling to find way out.

PALIPEHUTU (pro Hutu) (Parti pour la Libération Du Peuple Hutu): established in the late 1970s by Hutu Burundians who had fled to Rwanda.

CNDD (pro Hutu) (Conseil National pour la Defense de la Democratie): led by Leonard Nyangoma, former Justice Minister, established in 1994. CNDD is the political wing of Forces for Defence of Democracy (FDD), the main Hutu guerrilla movement.

ABASA (pro Tutsi) (Alliance Burundo-Africaine pour le Salut): established in 1993

INKIZO (pro Tutsi) (“The Shield”): established in 1993

AV-INTWARI: (pro Tutsi) established in 1993

RADDES (pro Tutsi) (Rassemblement pour la democratie, le developpement economique et social) established in 1993

PRP (pro Tutsi) (Parti pour la reconciliation du peuple): Royalist Party established in 1992.

PL (pro Tutsi) (Parti Liberal): established in 1992.

PB(pro Hutu) (Rassemblement pour le peuple du Burundi) established in 1992..

PP(pro Hutu) [Parti du peuple]: established in 1992..

PARENA (pro Tutsi) (Parti pour le redressement national): established in 1995 by former President Jean-Baptiste Bagaza

PSD (pro Tutsi) (Parti social-democrate): established in 1993

PIT (pro Tutsi) (Parti independent des travailleurs): established in 1993

ANNADE (pro Tutsi) (Alliance nationale pour le droit et le developpement economique): established in 1992

Armed Groups

FDD (Forces pour la Defense de la Democratie) formed in 1994, main Hutu guerrilla group. In October 2003 it signed peace agreement in Pretoria.

FNL (Forces Nationales pour la Liberation): the most radical Hutu guerrilla movement formed after a split in the PALIPEHUTU, so far it has failed to sign any peace agreement
.

FROLINA (Front pour la Liberation Nationale): formed in 1980s; signed Arusha Agreement 28 August 2000.

Since 1993, Burundi has been ravaged by civil war between the government army composed mainly of Tutsi, and several Hutu guerrilla groups. At least 300,000 people have been killed in the war. In 2000 a first agreement was reached in Arusha (Tanzania) to form a transition government with most of the political parties but not the guerrilla groups.
In October 2003 a Pretoria (South Africa) in the presence of South African President Thabo Mbeki, the President of Burundi Domitien Ndayizeye and FDD leader Pierre Nkurunziza signed a peace agreement to end hostilities between the army and the FDD and stipulating for the FDD vice presidency, four ministries, 40% of army officer posts and 35% of police officer posts. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 7/5/2004, righe 79 parole 628)