Burundi: The situation in 2009 of Tutsi civilians who were members of the Guardians of the Peace ("Gardiens de la paix") during the genocide of 1995-2005
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa |
| Publication Date | 16 April 2009 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | BDI103144.FE |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Burundi: The situation in 2009 of Tutsi civilians who were members of the Guardians of the Peace ("Gardiens de la paix") during the genocide of 1995-2005, 16 April 2009, BDI103144.FE, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4a7040a923.html [accessed 6 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
In a 14 April 2009 telephone interview with the Research Directorate, a professor from the University of Sudbury, who is an expert on the sociological aspects of Burundi, stated that the former members of Guardians of the Peace (Gardiens de la paix) had been demilitarized. The Professor added that most of them returned to normal life and that nothing is being done [translation] "to worry" them at this time, even though, like the vast majority of the population, they face the problem of unemployment (Professor 14 Apr. 2009).
In addition, in a 15 April 2009 telephone interview with the Research Directorate, the former president of the Burundian Human Rights League (Ligue burundaise des droits de l'homme, Ligue ITEKA), stated that, for the time being, there is nothing to report regarding the former members of the Guardians of the Peace (Ligue ITEKA 15 Apr. 2009). The President added that since various armed groups united, subsequent to the implementation of the National Demobilisation, Reinsertion and Reintegration of Ex-Combatants Programme (Programme national de démobilisation, de réinsertion et de reintegration, PNDRR), almost all the former members of Guardians of Peace have been demobilized (Ligue ITEKA 15 Apr. 2009). Although former Guardians of the Peace are sometimes implicated in the settling of accounts between certain criminal groups, these incidents are generally considered to be isolated cases (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Ligue burundaise des droits de l'homme (Ligue ITEKA). 15 April 2009. Telephone interview with the former president.
Professor of Philosophy, University of Sudbury. Sudbury, Ontario. 14 April 2009. Telephone interview.
Additional Sources Consulted
Internet sites, including: Grandlacs.net, Institute for Security Studies (ISS), Iteka.africa, United Nations (UN) Integrated Regional Information networks (IRIN), UN Refworld.
