Another Crossroad for Burundi: From the FNL to Peaceful Elections in 2010, Jamila El Abdellaoui

For Burundi the year 2009 commenced on a fairly positive note as January witnessed various breakthroughs in the protracted peace process between the government of Burundi (GoB) and the last remaining rebel movement, the Parti pour la Libération du Peuple Hutu–Forces Nationales de Libération (Palipehutu–FNL – Party for the Liberation of the Hutu People–National Liberation Forces). As a result of the progress made, the first half of 2009 was used to implement the various issues agreed upon and to close off the process, which commenced formally in 2006. The peace process in Burundi therefore appears to be complete. However, the electoral marathon scheduled for mid-2010 will seriously test the country’s hard-won stability.