Peace and Stability in Rwanda and Burundi: The Road Not Taken

THIS work looks at some of the ways to achieve lasting peace and stability in Rwanda and Burundi whose destiny is inextricably linked with the entire Great Lakes region of East Africa. Conflicts in the two countries affect the entire region, especially their neighbours - Tanzania, Congo, and Uganda - and have ripple effects which go far beyond the region. Therefore all the countries in the region have direct interest in what goes on in Rwanda and Burundi and in the resolution of the conflicts in the twin nations. But resolution of the conflict between the Hutu and the Tutsi in Rwanda and Burundi may require a solution that has never been tried before. It may even require a combination of solutions in order to be resolved permanently. Any solution, however radical, should be tried even if it runs counter to the logic of what African leaders and many other Africans consider to be the proper way to build nations and achieve unity transcending racial, ethnic and regional differences. Resolution of the conflict in Rwanda and Burundi may also provide some insights into the complexities of conflict management, and conflict resolution, in other intra-territorial and regional conflicts and disputes in other parts of the continent.