The Limits of Civilian Crisis Prevention: Is Burundi Facing Civil War?

For many years Burundi was viewed as a successful case of peace consolidation. However, since President Pierre Nkurunziza announced his candidacy for a third term in early 2015, the country has been on the brink of civil war. Were the years in which Germany and other states attempted to bring about a peaceful resolution in sub-Saharan Africa for nothing? How efficient and effective are these civilian crisis prevention measures anyhow? Have they prevented something worse from happening? The experts in attendance at the GIGA Forum will discuss the scope and limits of civilian crisis prevention in the context of current developments in Burundi.

Panellists: Ines Gakiza is a Burundian radio journalist. She is currently a guest at the Hamburg Foundation for Politically Persecuted People.

Julia Grauvogel is a research fellow at the GIGA Institute for African Affairs.

Winfried Nachtwei is a former member of the German Bundestag and the co-chair of the Federal Foreign Office’s Advisory Board for Civilian Crisis Prevention.

Moderation: Johannes von Dohnanyi has worked for many years as a foreign correspondent, journalist, and author.