On october 21st 2003, Burundi will complete 10 yers of bloody violence which began in October 1993 when the first freely elected President, Melchoir Ndadaye was assassinated, 3 months after he came to power. This assassination provoked inter-ethnic killings. The hutu ethnic group (to which Ndadaye belonged) and the tutsi ethnic group (accused by the former that the murderers of the President belonged to) formed a militia each.
A workshop organized at Gitega on Sepember 18, 2003 on the role of religion in peacebuilding was like the ignition key for restarting the engine.
Two partners of the National Council of Churches, Christian Aid and Norwegian Church Aid, were among the sponsors of this seminar organized by the Ministry of Mobilisation for Peace and Reconciliation.
The participants were: Senior religious leaders(Catholics, Protestants, and Moslems), MPs, cabinet members (ministers), governors of the provinces neighbouring with Gitega, and members of the committee in charge of observing the implementation of the Arusha Peace Accord for Peace and Reconciliation.
La violence qui endeuille le Burundi a été déclenchée par l'assassinat du Président Melchior Ndadaye le 21 octobre 1993.
Ensemble pour construire la nation: Détermination des leaders des confessions religieuses du Burundi
Suite au séminaire sur la place des confessions religieuses dans le rétablissement de la paix qui s'est tenu à Gitega du 18 au 19/2003, les responsables religieux des Eglises au Burundi s'engage davantage à agir ensemble pour construire la nation.