Genocides in Burundi
Genocides in Burundi - sometimes of a genocidal character - have taken place three times since Burundi gained independence in 1962, in all cases as a result of violent clashes between the Hutu and Tutsi groups . They were part of a conflict between the ruling Tutsi minority (1962: 16%) and the Hutu majority (1962: 83%). In view of the conflicts in neighboring Rwanda , the Tutsi decided to leave only their peers in the military, business and politics to secure their power. Before 1988, all 31 members of the Supreme Military Council were Tutsi, as were 14 of 19 ministers and 12 of 15 provincial governors. 95% of all officials in the Unity Party were Tutsi and 90% of all teachers belonged to this ethnic group. The army of Burundi consisted of 99.7% Tutsi. The aim of this policy was to secure Tutsi rule. The Hutu reacted with violent attempts to end the power of the Tutsi (1965, 1972–1973, 1988), who reacted with retaliatory measures, some of which were genocidal (1965 5,000, 1972–1973 150,000 to 250,000, 1988 24,000 to 50,000, 1993 around 200,000 deaths) . Many Hutu also fled to Hutu-ruled Rwanda and other neighboring countries.
Beginning of the conflict
The rule of the Tutsi began with the elections on May 10, 1965. In these elections, the Hutu gained a 70% majority in parliament, but King Mwambutsa IV appointed a Tutsi, Leopold Biha, as Prime Minister and on September 14, 1965 declared the establishment of one Absolute monarchy . On October 11, 1965, the Tutsi putsch, which aimed to establish a republic , followed. In response, there were coups on 18/19. October 1965 Hutu officers for fear of a new coup attempt by the Tutsi. This coup was put down by the king's bodyguards and the troops of Captain Michel Micombero , and the Hutu elite were almost completely killed as a result.
Genocides in 1972, 1988 and 1993
On April 29, 1972, around 10,000 Hutu attempted a coup. The conflict was quickly put down , also with the help of Zaire . The last ringleaders were executed on May 6th. The army then began a targeted war of extermination. 80,000 to 100,000 Hutu fell victim to the genocide, and another 150,000 fled to neighboring countries. Another massacre in 1988 was preceded by two changes of power. In 1976 Jean-Baptiste Bagaza came to power trying to strike a certain balance between Tutsi and Hutu. However, he did not begin democratization that would end Tutsi rule. In 1987 he was ousted by Major Pierre Buyoya . This initiated a policy of détente, released political prisoners and improved the tense relationship with the Catholic Church. However, his policy of détente was only accepted with difficulty by the Tutsi administration. On August 11, 1988, a former Tutsi soldier killed two Hutu. The Hutu responded quickly with retaliatory measures. 2000 to 3000 Tutsi died in the following days. The government army reacted aggressively, officially killing only 5000, unofficially probably 24,000 to 50,000 Hutu, 63,000 Hutu fled to Rwanda, 100,000 were homeless. The government made quick efforts to cool the situation down; Most of the refugees had returned by the end of the year. As early as August 1988, Pierre Buyoya set up a commission of inquiry that consisted of Hutu and Tutsi in equal parts. The government elected on October 19 had twelve Hutu and eleven Tuts ministers.
In 1993, following the assassination of Hutu President Melchior Ndadaye, Hutu carried out numerous massacres of Tutsi civilians. Both civilians and militias were the perpetrators . The events of 1993 meeting, according to the International Commission of Inquiry for Burundi of the United States Institute of Peace the criteria of a genocide ; investigation of possible previous genocides is recommended in the report.
See also
Individual evidence
- ^ A b Frank R. Pfetsch (Ed.): Conflicts since 1945 - Black Africa. Ploetz, Freiburg and Würzburg 1991, ISBN 3-87640-357-X , pp. 108-112.
- ↑ International Commission of Inquiry for Burundi: Final Report ( Memento of July 16, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF; 793 kB) - United States Institute of Peace