Written by Liubov Korina

The Republic of Burundi has been undermined by its complex history of civil wars and mass atrocities. Yet, the decades of challenges have shaped a remarkable fight of resilience within the nation. In recent years, Burundi has transformed its political instability into a newfound commitment to peace and development.

Her Excellency Imelde Sabushimike, Minister of National Solidarity, Social Affairs, Human Rights and Gender of the Republic of Burundi. (Image supplied)

The Institute of International Affairs Queensland was honoured to host her Excellency Imelde Sabushimike to recognise the current challenges and opportunities surrounding human rights in Burundi. Minister Sabushimike’s brought not only her expertise, but also her deeply personal responsibility to create change in the lives of marginalised communities.

Briefly providing a historical context, Minister Sabushimike reflected on the long history of struggle that the nation has been facing since the dawn of its independence in 1961. She detailed how the Burundian Civil War (1993 – 2005) was a complex representation of ethnic tensions, with violence and unrest resulting in over 300,000 casualties and a humanitarian crisis. The sustained period of violence, however, also gave rise to peace-building processes – with the reaffirmation to peace, reconciliation and national unity coming into effect in the 2005 Constitution.

Although acknowledging the significance of the nation’s past, for Minister Sabushimike the importance of the evening’s discussion was to focus on the current situation of Burundi – where today, Burundi is committed to re-building a system that is designed to protect its citizens, their rights and opportunities. A critical step in achieving this, as described by Minister Sabushimike, has been the establishment of independent bodies that are dedicated to human rights watch and conflict prevention. Likewise, the influence of signing regional and global treaties, such as the African Union Treaty, has been designed to protect human rights and individuals of the country.

Continuing the discussion of Burundi’s path to peace and development, Minister Sabushimike emphasised that addressing human rights challenges is inseparable from social and economic development programs. Under her leadership, initiatives aimed at reducing inequality and promoting inclusivity have made notable progress despite ongoing challenges. Education has seen a fundamental reform, with its improvement being fundamental in reducing long-standing disparities. Recent policies targeting school completion rates and offering boarding options for marginalised communities have both troubled youth, and increased opportunities for social development. As Minister Sabushimike described herself, the goal of the new development policies is to create “the opportunity to assure that everybody can become masters of their own destiny.”

Healthcare reforms have also alleviated economic pressures for the most disadvantaged communities. Minister Sabushimike depicted that new healthcare policies offer free medical services for pregnant women and children under the age of five, with additional funding set aside for individuals who are unable to afford treatment.

Burundi’s justice system has also seen legal reforms, with access to legal aid now being available to all members of the community, even those who previously lacked legal representation. To further showcase the government’s commitment in strengthening human rights, the president has made his contact information publicly available for citizens to report any concern or discrimination against their human rights to be brought up.

Minister Sabushimike emphasised Burundi’s regional role and international engagement. Although domestic stability has been the priority, there are security challenges posed by its regional context. Located in the heart of Africa, Minister Sabushimike stressed that Burundi shares its borders with politically volatile nations, including Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. She recognised that while Burundi has not recently experienced spillover conflict from its neighbours, the nation remains vigilant, actively taking pre-emptive measures to maintain national security and contribute to regional peacebuilding efforts.

“There is a double function to our country. Help others whilst preventing war to come on our soil.”

Concluding the evening, Minister Sabushimike touched on Burundi’s future vision and international collaboration goals. She specified that Burundi is aspiring to become a fully developed country by 2060, and the critical role of international partnership in achieving this. Reflecting on Australia’s high standards of healthcare infrastructure, education and social housing, Minister Sabushimike suggested that there is an opportunity for strategic shared learning – openly proposing for further collaboration between Burundi and Australia. “We would like Australia to be a better friend, to increase the level of relationship and engagement and accompany Burundi as we strive to improve our economic, social and political stability,” said Minister Sabushimike. Emphasising Burundi’s promising path to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2040, she proposed that a stronger partnership with Australia would see mutual benefits.

Appointed by the president to lift the marginalised groups, Minister Sabushimike sees her tenure as both a responsibility and an opportunity to advocate for change for those members in a society whose fundamental rights have been overlooked. As a member of one of Burundi’s most marginalised First Nations community, Minister Sabushimike is proud of being able to give a voice for the oppressed. Reflecting on Burundi’s achievements, Minister Sabushimike sees them as a testament to resilience, affirming herself that “what doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger.”

Edited by Deborah Bouchez

Currently in her final year of studies, Liubov Korina is pursuing a double degree in Economics and Arts, with majors in International Relations and Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Queensland. With particular interest in the intersection between economics and politics, Liubov is aspiring to be part of bringing about sustainable peace around the world through diplomatic and peace-building efforts.