1、Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS Web98-877 FOctober 26, 1998Burundi: UpdateTheodros Dagne, Specialist in International Relations With the assistance of Amanda Smith Foreign Affairs and National Defense DivisionSummaryIn recent mont
2、hs, President Pierre Buyoyas government has taken steps tostrengthen democracy in Burundi in order to have the sanctions imposed by eightAfrican nations lifted and bring greater stability to the small central African country.The government, twelve political parties, and three rebel groups have engag
3、ed in tworounds of peace talks mediated by former Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere, and thethird began on October 13 in Arusha. Despite progress and a cease-fire agreement, theeight African nations voted unanimously in February to keep sanctions in place, eventhough some of the leaders favored the
4、 lifting of sanctions. Violence has escalated inrecent weeks, with increasing reports of attacks and human rights abuses by both Huturebel groups and the Tutsi-dominated army. Buyoya has stepped up an internationalcampaign to gain support for the lifting of sanctions, and most observers seem to agre