Military Reform: Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi

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Military Reform: Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi

Implementations

Military Reform – 2003

Not all major parties to the conflict signed the agreement until 2003. During this three year gap, implementation of the military reform provision did begin.

Arusha accord and the Pretoria Protocol on Political, Defense and Security Power Sharing in Burundi provided for extensive reform in Burundi’s armed force. Among other significant reforms, the accord brings the military under civilian control. The accord reorganizes the armed forces by including members of the Burundian armed forces and combatants of the political parties and movements. In doing so, however, the accord excludes those members who were found guilty of acts of genocide, coups d’état, violation of the Constitution and human rights and war crimes.

The accord provided for the establishment of a technical committee consisting representatives from Burundian armed forces, combatants of the political parties and movements and external military advisors. The transitional government was given responsibility to determine the size of the national defense force in consultation with the technical committee. According to the agreement, political, ethnic, regional and gender criteria would be used to determine the imbalances in the defense force but the new force would consist 60% officers from the government army and 40% from the FDD. But, the new force would not consist more than 50% of any of the ethnic groups.1

The national defense force was said to be formed under the supervision of Implementation Monitoring Committee (IMC), Joint Ceasefire Commission (JCC) and African Mission in Burundi (AIMB). By the end of 2003, AIMB forces were deployed along with the establishment of IMC and JCC.2 As of December 2003, reforms sought through integration of combatants from political parties and movements did not take place.

  1. «Secretary General’s Report to the Security Council,» United Nations Security Council (S/2003/1146), December 4, 2003.
  2. Ibid.

Military Reform – 2004

For the formation of a new National Defense Forces, the president in consultation with a Technical Forces Agreement signed on 2 November 2003 appointed 33 members of the Joint Military High Command, 20 of which were from the current military and 13 from the rebel movement CNDD-FDD. This decision was made on 6 January 2004 by signing a decree.3 The current chief of staff retained his position and the rebel chief of staff was appointed as deputy chief of staff.

Government also announced the target of an army of 20,000, which would be achieved first by the integration of all combatants from political parties and movements in the initial phase and subsequent demobilization (Source: Secretary General’s Report to the Security Council, S/2004/682, 25 August 2004). Initially, it was estimated the Burundian Armed Forces had 45,000 troops, and total number of combatants from political parties and movement were estimated to be about 35,000 (Source: Secretary General’s Report to the Security Council, S/2004/210, 16 March 2004). But a revised estimated suggested a total of 70,000 combatants of which 13,000 would be transferred to the police force. Estimated 10-15000 combatants were child soldiers or pensioners or wounded and therefore would be demobilized immediately.4

As a way to establish a new National Defense Force, a unit of 1,200 soldiers, 800 from the government and 400 from the CNDD-FDD started their training.5 By the end of 2004, 1,800 soldiers from the army and former rebel combatants went through the training program. On 31 December 2002, president promulgated laws on creation, organization, function and composition of the new National Defense Force and New Police Service.

  1. «Burundi; Ndayizeye Appoints Members of Joint Military Command,» Africa News, January 7, 2004.
  2. «Secretary General’s Report to the Security Council,» United Nations Security Council (S/2004/682), August 25, 2004.
  3. «Burundi; New National Army Takes Shape,» Africa News, March 17, 2004.

Military Reform – 2005

As of April 2005, 6,000 personnel were deployed for two brigades and one special protection unit. These personnel were directly integrated (Source: Secretary General’s Report to the Security Council, S/2005/328, 19 May 2005). By December 2005, National Defense Force had some 33000 personnel, which was expected to be downsized to 25,000 by 2007.6

  1. Secretary General’s Report to the Security Council, United Nations Security Council (S/2005/728), November 21, 2005.

Military Reform – 2006

As provided in the accord, military reform provisions were implemented by 2005.

Military Reform – 2007

The target of reducing the defense force to 25,000 was not met in 2007 as Burundi had 27,000 personnel in its defense force.7

  1. «Secretary General’s Report to the Security Council,» United Nations Security Council (S/2007/682), November 23, 2007.

Military Reform – 2008

No developments observed this year.

Military Reform – 2009

By end of 2009, estimated 25,000 army personnel in the defense force completed human rights, gender and HIV aids.8

  1. «Secretary General’s Report to the Security Council,» United Nations Security Council (S/2009/611), November 30, 2009.

Military Reform – 2010

No further developments observed.

Military Reform – 2011

No further developments observed.

Military Reform – 2012

No further developments observed.