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Security Sector Reform in Burundi: Issues and Challenges for Improving Civilian Protection

Security Sector Reform in Burundi: Issues and Challenges for Improving Civilian Protection
Published: July 23, 2007
Reform of the defence and security forces was a major issue in the conflict in Burundi. The Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement and the various ceasefire agreements governing the peace process contain important provisions regarding the modalities of these reforms. However, these are overshadowed by considerations of the balance of power between the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups and the main combatant groups, to the detriment of the architecture of security sector reform. Despite divergent views on how the concept is to be approached and lingering political tensions and fears that have not quite been allayed, the security sector reform process in Burundi— now under way for nearly three years — is steadily progressing. However, it still faces many challenges and some uncertainty.
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