Expanded After Action Review: Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration in Burundi 2000-2011

The rationale for the review mission was to describe as accurately as possible the program contours of both DDR processes in Burundi and to provide a strategic overview assessing best practice, with a focus on the institutional relationships between actors given the multiplicity of agencies, institutions, donors, and individuals involved during ten years of DDR thinking and practice. Key conceptual issues guiding the strategic assessment during interviews were:
-The relationship of DDR to SSR and to the overall peace process;
-Perceptions of integrated cooperation and coordination; and,
-The impact on the DDR process of several international transitions in Burundi, from AMIB to ONUB to BINUB to BNUB.

The review mission met with nearly 40 respondents representing all of the institutions and actors who were involved with the design and implementation of both DDR processes. The review is also informed by an in-depth desk study of available documentation on DDR in Burundi. Section I of the review provides a comprehensive retrospective of the design and implementation of each of the two DDR processes in Burundi. Section II assesses the outcomes of both DDR processes. Section III focuses on the institutional relationships between the multiple actors engaged in DDR in Burundi. Section IV summarizes recommendations arising from analysis in preceding sections.