“The relief of the international community, which had laboured so long to achieve the desired breakthrough, was reflected in the agreement reached with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund on 28 and 29 January 2009, to cancel 92 per cent of Burundi’s debt. This debt relief amounted to some US$1.4bn and,according to the country’s finance minister, would give Burundi’s government some $40 mn over the next two decades to allocate towards social and economic development. That suddenness of these developments was the culmination of years of regional, continental and international pressure, as well as the dynamics of Burundi’s internal situation. Only in the last year has the need for considered haste impressed itself upon the two principals to the 2006 ceasefire agreement. There are a number of reasons that might explain this, some of which are suggested in this situation report.”
