ABSTRACT
Burundi is bordered to the north by Rwanda and to the west and east by powerful neighbours the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania. Burundi is among the worlds least developed countries with a declining GDP per capita which is already among the lowest in the world. Ethnic conflict in Burundi only appeared in the post-colonial era. Indeed, the ethnic nationalism considered so characteristic of the country results from the effects of European occupation. In 1965, the Tutsis appeared to be in control but an attempted political coup resulted in the liquidation of most of the Hutu political leaders and the beginning of a long series of military governments. Further mass killings and the well-publicised Rwandan genocide, the UN special representative helped the political parties produce a series of power-sharing agreements. The basis for future civil war and genocide still exists and no compromise political settlement appears likely.
