Conflict and Coffee in Burundi 153
80 See description in P Buyoya, op cit; p It.
81 See G Dennison, G Murray & G Booth, Burundi: Biological diversity and tropical
forest assessment, World directory of country environmental smiies, United States
Agency for International Development, Development Alternatives Inc. &
Energy/Development Internationa1,Washington D.C., p 2.
82 Burundi received US$ 21 million in food aid between 1994-1997 and the conflict
has destroyed its food self-sufficiency capability. See J Havermans, Burundi:
Peace initiatives help stem violence, Searching for Peace in Africa: An Ouemiew
of Conflict Prevention and Management Activities, European Platform for Conflict
Prevention and Transformation, Utrecht, 1999. pp 197-208 & 200.
83 National Environment Strategy in Burundi, 1997.
84 Other protected natural areas are the Bururi and Kigwena Natural Reserves.
85 For contrasting views on the 'feudal system' in Burundi, see for example
L Ndarubagire, op cit, pp 17-21: and P Buyoya, op cit, pp 42-44. T Laely employs
the patron/client framework in illustrating the relative flexibility of relations
during the pre-colonial period. See T Laely, Peasants, local communities and
central power in Burundi, Journal of Modem African Studies, vol 35, no 4,
December 1997, pp 695-716 & 702-706.
86 lbid. More significantly, Laely notes the political aspect of the relationship upon
'formalisation' through a gift of a cow or territorial command. It was then trans-
formed into amasabo, assuming the meaning of patronage defined as uncondi-
tional loyalty and dependence.
87 Ndarubagiye characterises the relationship thus " ... Tutsi had set up an efficient
feudal exploitation system, the two instruments of which were social bondage
contracts ..." P Buyoya, op cit, p 42. Laely is quick to point out that -in
Burundian society, which was structured in a strongly venical fashion. [uncon-
ditional loyalty and dependence] was not a negative but a positive value; such
bonds of dependence could provide the means of upward mobility." Laely, op cit.
p 704.
88 Higher population density can be seen in Kayanza and Ngozi to the country's
more fertile north. It need be mentioned as well that there is a close relation
between the population density, soil productivity and incidences of violence.
89 See for example the seminal report of the United Nations Secretary General to the
Security Council on The mot causes of conflin and the promotion ofdumblepeace
and sustainable development in Africa, United Nations Depanment of Public
Information, New York, 1998, par 15.
90 The thesis of incorporation and disengagement in the analysis of the relationship
between peasants and the state illustrate the mutually suspicious character of the
relationship between government authorities and the rural population in
Burundi. See e.g. V Azava, Re-ordering state-societv relations: Incorporation and
disengagement, D Rothschild & N Chazan (eds.), The precarious balance: State
and society in Apca, Lynne Rienner, Colorado & London, 1988, pp 3-21.
91 See, among others, T Laely. op cit, p 707.
92 Burundi Ministry of Energy and Mines, 1998.
93 See the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi, Annex IV,
Reconstruction and Development, par 1.4.3.2.