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An economic interpretation of conflict in Burundi

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  • F Ngaruko
  • JD Nkurunziza

Abstract

This paper uses economic and political analyses to investigate the economics of civil conflicts in Burundi. It shows that conflicts in Burundi have resulted from a combination of poverty, governance policies of exclusion and the fight for the control of the country's limited resources. The public sector being the main source of financial accumulation, Burundian bureaucracy is analysed in detail and is found to be a predatory bureaucracy which cares for its own interests. In order to avoid the recurrence of war in the country, it is recommended that Burundians, with the assistance of other fellow Africans and the international community, first of all break the cycle predation-rebellion-repression. Secondly, the paper recommends that a solution be found to the country's endless problem of impunity whereby criminals responsible for some of the most horrendous crimes have never been prosecuted. The paper remarks that the challenge of bringing peace to Burundi is tall, but that the current mediator, former South African President Nelson Mandela, is probably the best but last hope Burundians can count on to enjoy a peaceful future.

Suggested Citation

  • F Ngaruko & JD Nkurunziza, 2000. "An economic interpretation of conflict in Burundi," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 9(3), pages 370-409.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:jafrec:v:9:y:2000:i:3:p:370-409.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/jae/9.3.370
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    Cited by:

    1. Nillesen, Eleonora, 2016. "Empty cups? Assessing the impact of civil war violence on coffee farming in Burundi," African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, African Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 11(1), pages 1-15, March.
    2. Léonce Ndikumana, 2006. "Corruption and Pro-Poor Growth Outcomes: Evidence and Lessons for African Countries," Working Papers wp120, Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
    3. Marion Mercier & Rama Lionel Ngenzebuke & Philip Verwimp, 2016. "Violence exposure and welfare over time: Evidence from the Burundi civil war," HiCN Working Papers 198 updated, Households in Conflict Network.
    4. Tom Bundervoet & Philip Verwimp & Richard Akresh, 2009. "Health and Civil War in Rural Burundi," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 44(2).
    5. Marion Mercier & Rama Lionel Ngenzebuke & Hugues Philip Verwimp, 2017. "Violence exposure and deprivation: Evidence from the Burundi civil war," Working Papers DT/2017/14, DIAL (Développement, Institutions et Mondialisation).
    6. Philip Verwimp & Jan Van Bavel, 2014. "Schooling, Violent Conflict, and Gender in Burundi," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 28(2), pages 384-411.
    7. Maarten Voors & Eleonora Nillesen & Philip Verwimp & Erwin Bulte & Robert Lensink & Daan van Soest, 2010. "Does Conflict affect Preferences? Results from Field Experiments in Burundi," HiCN Working Papers 71, Households in Conflict Network.
    8. Léonce Ndikumana, 2005. "Distributional conflict, the state, and peace building in Burundi," UMASS Amherst Economics Working Papers 2005-13, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of Economics.
    9. Tom Bundervoet & Philip Verwimp, 2005. "Civil War and Economic Sanctions: Analysis of Anthropometric Outcomes in Burundi," HiCN Working Papers 11, Households in Conflict Network.
    10. Floribert Ngaruko, 2003. "Agricultural Export Performance in Africa: Elements of comparison with Asia," Working Papers 03-09, Agricultural and Development Economics Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO - ESA).
    11. Janvier D. Nkurunziza & Léonce Ndikumana & Prime Nyamoya, 2014. "The Financial Sector in Burundi: An Investigation of Its Efficiency in Resource Mobilization and Allocation," NBER Chapters, in: African Successes, Volume III: Modernization and Development, pages 103-156, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    12. Janvier Nkurunziza & Floribert Ngaruko, 2002. "Explaining Growth in Burundi: 1960-2000," Economics Series Working Papers WPS/2002-03, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    13. Mercier, Marion & Ngenzebuke, Rama Lionel & Verwimp, Philip, 2020. "Violence exposure and poverty: Evidence from the Burundi civil war," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(4), pages 822-840.
    14. Daran, Bertille & Levasseur, Pierre, 2022. "Is overweight still a problem of rich in sub-Saharan Africa? Insights based on female-oriented demographic and health surveys," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 25(C).
    15. Janvier D. Nkurunziza & Léonce Ndikumana & Prime Nyamoya, 2012. "The Financial Sector in Burundi," NBER Working Papers 18289, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    16. Niamh Gaynor, 2014. "Bringing the Citizen Back In: Supporting Decentralisation in Fragile States - A View from Burundi," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 32(2), pages 203-218, March.
    17. Fransen, Sonja & Ruiz, Isabel & Vargas-Silva, Carlos, 2017. "Return Migration and Economic Outcomes in the Conflict Context," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 196-210.
    18. Bert Ingelaere & Réginas Ndayiragije & Marijke Verpoorten, 2022. "Political representation in the wake of ethnic violence and post-conflict institutional reform: Comparing views from Rwandan and Burundian citizens," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2022-142, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    19. D'Haese, Marijke F.C. & Speelman, Stijn & Vandamme, Ellen & Nkunzimana, Tharcisse & Ndimubandi, Jean & D'Haese, Luc, 2010. "Recovering from conflict: an analysis of food production in Burundi," 2010 AAAE Third Conference/AEASA 48th Conference, September 19-23, 2010, Cape Town, South Africa 96829, African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE).
    20. Slobodanka B. Teodosijevic, 2003. "Armed Conflicts and Food Security," Working Papers 03-11, Agricultural and Development Economics Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO - ESA).

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