The political landscape of Burundi has been dominated in recent years by the civil war and a long peace process and move to democracy.
The current President of Burundi is Pierre Nkurunziza, was elected unopposed as the new President of Burundi by the parliament on 19 August 2005.
Nkurunziza was the first president chosen through democratic means since the start of the civil war in 1993 and was sworn in on 26 August, replacing transitional president Domitien Ndayizeye.
In November 1995, the presidents of Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zaire (currently Democratic Republic of Congo) announced a regional initiative for a negotiated peace in Burundi facilitated by former Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere.
In July 1996, former Burundian President Buyoya returned to power in a bloodless coup.
He declared himself president of a transitional republic, even as he suspended the National Assembly, banned opposition groups, and imposed a nationwide curfew.
Widespread condemnation of the coup ensued, and regional countries imposed economic sanctions pending a return to a constitutional government. Buyoya agreed in 1996 to liberalize political parties.
Nonetheless, fighting between the army and Hutu militias continued. In June 1998, Buyoya promulgated a transitional constitution and announced a partnership between the government and the opposition-led National Assembly.
After facilitator Julius Nyerere’s death in October 1999, the regional leaders appointed Nelson Mandela as Facilitator of the Arusha peace process. Under Mandela the peace process has revived and important progress has taken place.
The killing of both Burundi president, Cyprien Ntaryamira and Rwandan President, Juvenal Habyarimana, when their plane was shot down on the 6th of April 1994 sparked the genocide in their respective countries.
The Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi, which was signed in 2000 as well as the subsequent cease-fire agreements with various rebel movements paved the way for the holding of democratic elections in 2005.
Now, Article 96 of the 2005 constitution – based on the Arusha accords – stipulates that the president “is elected, by universal suffrage, for a period of five years, which can be repeated once.”
However, Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza announced his plans to run for a third term next year, just days after parliament voted to preserve the constitutional two-term limit.
1994- Killing of Burundi & Rwanda presidents sparks genocide
2000- Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi signed
2005- Burundi holds democratic elections, two-term limit imposed
2015- Burundi president Pierre Nkurunziza to run for third term>
