466 Chapter 4
510 Tanzania/516 Burundi
MID#1362
Dispute Number: 1362
Date(s): March 15, 1973 to July 21, 1973
Participants: 516 Burundi/510 Tanzania
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (Negotiated)
Fatalities: 26–100 deaths
Narrative: In 1972 Hutus raided Burundi from Tanzania; the Burundi military then
conducted reprisal killings. Perhaps 100,000 died and many fled to Tanzania. Burundi
accused Tanzania of supporting rebels for cross-border raids, while Tanzania accused
Burundi of carrying out cross-border raids. In mid-March, Hutu rebels ambushed a
Burundi army patrol. The Burundi military entered Tanzania to fight rebels, but they
killed 44 Burundese refugees and 33 Tanzanians in the process. Tanzania lodged
a strong protest with Burundi, and Tanzanian dock workers then refused to handle
cargo for Burundi, which was a major burden because 85 percent of Burundi’s trade
normally passed through Tanzania. On April 3, Burundi admitted responsibility,
apologized, and offered compensation.
On June 30, Burundi military crossed into Tanzania to prevent another rebel raid,
this time burning more homes and killing 8–10 Tanzanians. Tanzanian dock work-
ers again refused to handle cargo for Burundi, this time with clear support from the
government. Burundi’s president then requested mediation from the Organization of
African Unity. The Tanzanian army followed with an attack on a military outpost four
miles inside Burundi, which killed 10 soldiers and wounded four. Burundi President
Michel Micombero asked the Tanzanian army to increase military presence along the
border to decrease Hutu rebel raids. On July 22, Burundi and Tanzania issued a joint
communique. Burundi accepted responsibility for killing 10 Tanzanians in a cross-
border raid, and Tanzania agreed to re-open the border. General Mobutu acted as
mediator. Nevertheless, one last incident occurred one week later when a clash killed
10 Tanzanians.
Coding changes: Dropped from the dispute: 517 Rwanda. End Date changed from
June 29, 1973. Outcome changed from Unclear. Settlement changed from None.
Fatalities changed from None.
MID#4118
Dispute Number: 4118
Date(s): June 15, 1995 to November 3, 1995
Participants: 510 Tanzania/516 Burundi
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Border tensions were high between Tanzania and Burundi in the latter half
of 1995. Tanzania accused Burundi of so many border violations that it eventually
threatened to invade its neighbor.