The Role of the East African Community in Resolving the Ethnic Divisions in Burundi, 1993-2021.

This article examines the role of the East African Community (EAC) in addressing the ethnic divisions in Burundi stemming from the civil war between 1993 and 2005 and the subsequent violence in 2015. It situates the conflict within Burundi’s historical ethnic tensions between the Hutu and Tutsi groups and analyses the EAC’s mediation efforts, which have been hindered by financial and logistical constraints, lack of trust among member states, governance challenges in Burundi, and broader regional political instability. Using Afrocentricity as a theoretical framework, the study highlights the EAC’s limited success in resolving the conflict due to these multifaceted challenges, concluding that the ethnic crisis remained unresolved as of 2021. The article recommends enhanced financial and logistical support, inclusive dialogue, and greater regional cooperation to foster lasting peace in Burundi.