Too often, leadership is seduced by power. The allure of authority, prestige and influence can slowly overwhelm the original motivation to serve people. What begins as a commitment to uplift communities can quietly turn into an obsession with status and control
US partiality towards one party risks subverting mediator role in Washington Process
The city’s capture by M23 means neighbouring Burundi, an ally of the DRC government, now shares a border with an area controlled by the rebels, escalating the risk of cross-border conflict
Many women and girls have survived sexual violence perpetrated by armed groups and armed forces in DRC, when fleeing to Burundi, and incidents have also been reported in the refugee site
Governments on the continent are using enforced disappearances to silence political opposition but, as cases rise, only 21 of 55 states have ratified a key convention
Burundi is not the only authoritarian country in the region. Tanzania is restricting the opposition, media and civil society, while Rwanda controls any dissent
Economic integration would lead to trade and economic growth and contribute to social stability
The 63rd independence anniversary celebration in Pretoria successfully combined diplomatic protocol with authentic cultural expression, offering attendees an enriching glimpse into Burundi’s vibrant heritage and enduring traditions
The continent asked for more say in global health decisions after Covid. It now has that. The mpox declaration is a test of this new power
The Clade Ib strain has already jumped borders, with cases being reported in Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and Kenya in the last two weeks
Refugees ‘hounded like dogs’ by the police and army despite protests by the United Nations Refugee Agency and civil society
East African leaders are mobilising armies to intervene in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Decades ago, Zimbabwean soldiers came to Kinshasa’s aid and learnt harsh lessons
The Democratic Republic of the Congo will bring economic opportunities for the East African Community and the DRC – but it will also bring a number of major security problems
Your Africa updates: What happened on the continent this past week
Burundi has not yet dealt with its violent past, and successive leaders have failed to stop state repression. A political dialogue is urgently needed
Governments’ interruption of social media is censorship is a way to control the flow of information online and amounts to censorship
Elections do not guarantee greater freedom or democratic governance and have contributed to instability and economic setbacks
‘The only thing they want is for us to sing the praises of President Kagame,’ said Kizito Mihigo, in one of the last interviews before his death.
Governments across sub-Saharan Africa violently pursue exiles abroad. Democracies must push back
Just as a “nobody” can spew falsehoods and propaganda on social media, so too can a political leader — only with more dire consequences.
Human Rights Watch has documented cases of Burundian refugees being tortured and forcibly returned by Tanzanian authorities
Fabien Banciryanino, who challenged state on political murders, detained in notorious prison
Four former heads of state speak about what being president is actually like
Gervais Ndirakobuca is under international sanctions for human rights violations — abductions, disappearances, murder, turture — when people protested against the president seeking a third term
It’s time to deliver justice, Mr President
Évariste Ndayishimiye’s first speech as president, and the conspicuous absence of Burundi’s main opposition leader, do not bode well for democracy
Burundi’s president was a cruel and tyrannical leader under whom no one was safe, not even schoolchildren
We don’t know if the coronavirus killed Pierre Nkurunziza. We do know that, in his absence, Burundi has a chance to take the pandemic seriously
The poll is going ahead with virtually no precautions besides prayer to protect citizens against the spread of Covid-19
Whether citizens vote for the ruling party or the opposition, Burundi’s democracy is still in an unfavourable state
Bitter rivals are contesting the presidential election and changes to the Constitution will make it unlikely that the losing party will concede defeat, raising prospects of violent protests
Now is the time to rewrite a collective script of Africa’s development agenda and the well being of its people