Burundi Constitutional Referendum

United States Congratulates Burundi on Constitutional Referendum

The United States congratulates the people of Burundi for holding a peaceful constitutional referendum on February 28. The United States views the referendum as an important milestone on the path to peace in Burundi. Moreover, we believe the referendum’s reported approval of the new constitution reflects the views of most Burundians. The reported high turnout demonstrates that the Burundian people believe strongly in the right to vote.

The United States remains committed to fully supporting the Burundi peace process and the Burundian people as they move forward with free and fair elections.

2005/263 Released on March 1, 2005 Press Statement Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman Washington, DC March 1, 2005

"Burundi's first democratically elected president was assassinated in October 1993 after only one hundred days in office. Since then, some 200,000 Burundians have perished in widespread, often intense ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi factions. Hundreds of thousands have been internally displaced or have become refugees in neighboring countries. Burundi troops, seeking to secure their borders, briefly intervened in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1998. A new transitional government, inaugurated on 1 November 2001, signed a power-sharing agreement with the largest rebel faction in December 2003 and set in place a provisional constitution in October 2004. Implementation of the agreement has been problematic, however, as one remaining rebel group refuses to sign on and elections have been repeatedly delayed, clouding prospects for a sustainable peace." SOURCE: CIA FactBook