1. LAND CONFLICTS AND THE STATE IN RWANDA AND BURUNDI
Shinichi TAKEUCHI
Institute of Developing Economies – JETRO

2. Introduction Eruption of land disputes in peacebuilidng process.
The nature of land problems depend substantially on the nature of the state.
How has post-conflict statebuilding determined the nature of land problems in Rwanda and Burundi?

3. Importance of addressing land issues in peacebuilding
Addressing land problems in the context of peacebuilding contributes to
Improvement of people’s everyday security.
Sustainable statebuilding through the improvement of land governance.

4. Rwanda and Burundi Rwanda Burundi Population density /Km2 444 334
% of rural population
81%
89%
Major population movement
(“Social revolution”. Tutsi refugees)
(Civil war. Tutsi-led RPF took power. Tutsi Returnees, Hutu refugees)
(Hutu returnees)
1972 (Massacre against Hutu. Outflow of Hutu refugees)
1993 (Civil war. Tutsi IDPs)
2000 (Peace agreement. Hutu returnees)
Present political regime
RPF-led government maintains political stability.
CNDD-FDD (former Hutu rebel) strengthens its control under the power-sharing system.

5. Rwanda and Burundi
Source：Perry-Castaneda Library Map Collection

6. Central highlands and frontiers
Central Rwanda: Thousands hills
Southern Burundi near to Tanzania

7. Land conflicts caused by the recent refugee return
Burundi
Hutu returnees confront secondary occupants in their homelands.
Returnees and secondary occupants often have different ethnic affiliation.
CNTB mediates the disputes.
Rwanda
Tutsi returnees were guided to be settled in the eastern part of the country and provided with lands of the Hutu original inhabitants (land sharing).

8. Conflict Resolution Mechanisms
Burundi
CNTB since 2006
Recent change in the CNTB
Much stronger legal and political power
Pro-returnee and pro-ruling party tendency
Politicization and exacerbation of land disputes
Rwanda
Reduction of land disputes with returnees
Reorganization of conflict resolution mechanisms
Reluctance to voice the discontent

9. When you have a problem over land in Rwanda…
“Justice process” “Mediations”
Court (local, appeal,…)
Abunzi (Cell)
Executive Secretary in Cell
Chief of umudugudu

10. Land Policies and their effectiveness
Rwanda: active interventionism
Villagization
Recognition of women’s land rights
Land consolidation
Land registration
Burundi: lack of effective land policies
Women’s right, land registration, conflict resolution
Growing dissatisfaction about CNTB

11. Conclusion: land and the state
Policies and practices over land indicate the state intentions and capabilities to control society.
Rwanda: a series of the RPF’s attempts to strengthen and institutionalize its control.
Burundi: weak capacity in policy implementation under the power-sharing system.

12. Challenges Rwanda Burundi
The decrease of land conflicts with returnees does not mean that the problem has been resolved. It needs to promote pro-poor policies targeting on the land-scarce group.
Burundi
Lack of effective land governance gives evil influence over the national politics. Developing the capability and restoring impartial conflict resolution mechanism are critically needed.