Burundi update and call for prayer
Since President Pierre Nkurunziza secured a bid for a third term in office in April 2015 Burundi has been rocked by political tension caused by disputed presidential and parliamentary elections. The country has suffered outbreaks of unrest and in November the United Nations began planning the deployment of peacekeepers should the situation deteriorate any further.
In October the Burundian government proposed a National Commission for Inter-Burundian Dialogue (CNDI), designed to encourage conversation between different opposing groups with a focus on stabilising the country and ensuring national security. The person who has been chosen to head the CNDI is Bishop Justin Nzoyisaba, representing the United Methodist Church of Burundi. Some have criticised the government saying that the proposed six months of talks will do little to keep the peace, especially without international mediation.
All We Can has been working with talented local partners in Burundi since 2011. All We Can’s partners remain committed to continuing their long-term development activities with vulnerable women, marginalised groups and young people. This work is more important than ever in the current context. A peaceful and prosperous future for Burundi relies on communities being able to work their way out of poverty.
Burundi facts and figures*
- Over 200,000 people are estimated to have fled Burundi since April 2015.
- Burundi is recognised as the second poorest country in the world.
- 72% of people living in Burundi do not have access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.
- All We Can works alongside four talented local partners in Burundi serving young people, vulnerable women and marginalised groups.
Call for prayer
All We Can’s country Co-ordinator for Burundi Pastor Cyrille Siboniyu asks that we remember Burundi in our prayers:
“Dear friends and supporters of All We Can, we would like to ask you to pray for peace and security in Burundi, for the Church in general and the United Methodist Church of Burundi in particular”
A prayer for leaders in Burundi
Lord, you have given us this beautiful country in the heart of Africa,
a country of milk and honey.
As you led your people out of servitude in Egypt to the Promised Land,
do the same for the people of Burundi.
Give our leaders the staff of Moses.
Enlighten them so that they help your children
during this difficult period
Save us from the divisions and selfishness
that can so easily ensnare our leaders.
We praise you and we thank you for always listening to us,
Lord Almighty. Amen
Find out more about our partners in Burundi
*Based on recent statistics from UN, World Bank, World Food Programme
About the Author Laura Cook
Laura works for All We Can as the Communications Manager. She is also an internationally acclaimed photographer with a passion for women's rights. She is studying MA in Refugee Protection and Forced Migration Studies in her spare time and lives with her husband Stephen in Essex.
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