On 28 August 2000, in Arusha (Tanzania), the Government of Burundi, the National Assembly and a coalition of political parties sign the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement — the transitional treaty ending the Burundian Civil War for most armed groups.

Talks mediated successively by Julius Nyerere and Nelson Mandela produce five protocols: nature of the conflict, democracy and good governance, peace and security, reconstruction and development, and implementation guarantees.

The agreement fixes power-sharing (Hutu–Tutsi ethnic quotas), reform of defence and security forces and a transitional period. CNDD-FDD and Palipehutu-FNL did not sign then; ceasefires followed in 2002 and 2006.

Arusha principles were incorporated into the 2005 Constitution; the UN monitored implementation (ONUB, 2004).

For Burundi, 28 August 2000 marks the Arusha signature.

The text is published on UN Peacemaker.

The Arusha Accords of 28 August 2000 remain Burundi’s reconciliation milestone.

Image: Arusha; Wikimedia Commons. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: Arusha Accords (Burundi). Treaty text: UN Peacemaker — Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement.