Civil Administration Reform: Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi
Implementations
Civil Administration Reform – 2003
Not all major parties to the conflict signed the agreement until 2003. During this three year gap, implementation of civil administration reforms began. The accord called for reforms to de-politicize the civil service, reduce corruption, and increase competence. The government conducted a census of public servants throughout the country in 2001. In the result published in February 2002, there were 40,642 people employed by the civil service, but the Civil Service Ministry had been sending paychecks to 41,642 people. Around 1000 people who had been getting paid were unaccounted for.1 In July 2002, the parliament adopted new legislation allowing trade unions for civil servants.2 No initiatives were taken to achieve a balance of ethnic groups in the civil service.
- “Burundi: Census shows 1,007 ghost civil servants employed,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, March 8, 2002.
- “Burundi: Parliament adopts draft law on civil service trade unions,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, July 5, 2002.
Civil Administration Reform – 2004
It was reported that ethnic Tutsis, who had applied for jobs in customs, were taken out of the applicant pool. The director-general of the Civil Service defended the move by suggesting that the Arusha accord sought to bring ethnic balance to the civil service.1
- “Civil service head reportedly rejects ethnic Tutsi job applicants” BBC Sumary of World Broadcasts, January 24, 2004.
Civil Administration Reform – 2005
At the close of 2005, the legislature had not established an independent Ombudsmen office for civil service employees as called for in the accord.1
- “Burundi president marks second anniversary in power with address; overview,” BBC Monitoring Africa, August 27, 2007.
Civil Administration Reform – 2006
On 26 May 2006, the government enacted Law no. 1/28 in an effort to reduce corruption in the civil service.1
- “Burundi: A Deepening Corruption Crisis Africa Report,” International Crisis Group (no. 185 — 21), March 2012.
Civil Administration Reform – 2007
On 29 June 2007, the National Recruitment Commission was finalized through Ministerial order no. 574, which required increased public transparency in the recruitment process.1
Civil Administration Reform – 2008
No developments observed this year.
Civil Administration Reform – 2009
No developments observed this year.
Civil Administration Reform – 2010
On 25 January 2010, the Office of the Ombudsman was created and the parliament elected Mohamed Rukara, a CNDD-FDD member as the first ombudsman. Due to his political affiliations, however, there were objections about him being independent or neutral as intended in the Arusha agreement and the constitution.1
- “2010 Human Rights Report: Burundi,” United States State Department, accessed February 18, 2010, http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/af/154334.htm.
Civil Administration Reform – 2011
No further developments observed.
Civil Administration Reform – 2012
A special 2012 report by the International Crises Group on Burundi makes a case that corruption is now worse under the total capture of state power under the CNDD than it was under Tutsi minority control. The report claims that “the civil service is now perceived as very politicized, a situation denounced by officials themselves.” In survey based assessments of government corruption in Burundi, between 84 and 91 percent of officials believed that “appointments in their sector were controlled by the executive power.”1