Journal Letter - Burundi - March 2010

Dear Friends,

Tugende! Let’s go (literally let’s walk) in Kirundi – seems to sum up my experience since I last sat down to write to you in my journal letter. On a national level, preparations for the elections are moving a pace, rather racing, towards the first polling day in May and AFSC’s elections related work is stepping up a gear too. In my last letter I wrote about AFSC Burundi’s nonviolent elections campaign, which is really taking shape.

Through the Quaker tradition of quiet diplomacy we have helped influence international organisations responsible for coordinating the elections, to take a nonviolent elections campaign seriously and last week saw the launch of such a nationwide campaign. This campaign will involve touring the country with cultural events, such as sports, dance and music to promote a culture of peace and philosophy of nonviolence during the elections.

It’s amazing how powerful a message can be when it has a catchy rhythm to it!

Sporting events bring people together and enhances peaceful cohabitation. I have heard poignant testimonies of how football tournaments brought together rival youth militia forces during the crisis in the mid 1990s, during a particularly bloody stage of the fighting. Football was used to great success again in 2005 to build trust and relationships during the elections period. To launch the nonviolence campaign a football match united different political parties on the football pitch against a team representing the international community. The referees had no yellow or red cards. Each player sported a pro-peace and democracy slogan on their team strip. The match was hard (but nonviolently) fought and the resulting score was a diplomatic 3-3. Hopefully, some of the camaraderie will survive beyond those nail biting 90 minutes and continue into the electoral process.

So far these examples seem quiet light-hearted, but they carry a serious message behind them and address very real concerns here in Burundi. Tensions are mounting and there have been some cases of violence in certain communes during voter registration. Although, assessments on the potential for further elections-related violence vary from very positive to extremely pessimistic, Burundians who I have spoken to are genuinely worried about the elections and are not sure what to expect. ‘It’s like night and day here’ one friend told me, ‘you never know what to expect’. This comment reminded me just how vital it is that elections go well here and that the message of nonviolence has some impact.

Alongside advocating for peaceful, nonviolent elections, AFSC has been making a concerted and strong case for an effective early warning system and a mechanism to mediate and prevent conflicts as they arise. Elections-related conflict mediation and prevention remains a blind spot in national and international elections planning. To contribute to addressing this gap AFSC is working with local civil society organisations and other international NGOs to come up with an appropriate system to collect and analyse indicators of potential conflict.

Whilst I acknowledge the importance of these coming months, I am determined that the elections do not steal the limelight. AFSC continues to strive to consider longer term, deep-rooted issues which impact on peacebuilding. I am constantly trying to listen to what these needs are and looking for ways in which I can make my small contribution so that the voices and needs of Burundians right down to the grassroots can be heard by decision makers at the national and international levels. The international network of Quaker organisations and individual Quakers provide an important channel and support to achieve this.

I had an opportunity to hear grassroots perspectives during AFSC’s strategic review; we invited our partners to share their perspectives on how to ensure that the AFSC programme remains responsive to their needs and takes into account the evolving challenges and opportunities for peacebuilding in Burundi.

I am always humbled by our partners’ knowledge and experience. Their insights have proved invaluable to orientating our programme for the coming two years and to demonstrating where AFSC can add value. For example, in one ‘problem tree’ exercise our partners explored the current challenges facing a peaceful, stable Burundi. Asking themselves: "Are the challenges root causes, central problems or the manifestations of something deeper?" They then placed them at the roots, on the trunk or on the fruits. This exercise helped AFSC and our partners prioritise the challenges for peace to address in our Country Programme.

Most importantly for me, this process helped me to answer the question: "What is it that AFSC can do for you to help you in your peacebuilding work?" Remaining in-touch with our partners as we take small steps to build sustainable peace and development in Burundi is vital.

“There is no way towards peace; peace is the way” (Mahatma Gandhi). We cannot walk that way alone. Here, we are nourished by the support of others.

Reka rero tugende twese muriyo hamwe nzira j’amahoro - Let’s walk the way of peace together.

Ruth
March 2010