The Burundian Senate held a public conference on Tuesday, Jan. 28, with ambassadors, representatives from religious organizations, political parties, and independent groups, to present research findings on the German colonial period and the 1925 administrative reform in Burundi.
Emmanuel Sinzohagera, Speaker of the Senate, said the research results would serve as a foundation for rebuilding Burundi and initiating discussions with those responsible for the atrocities the country endured. The goal, he said, is to foster reconciliation and secure reparations for Burundi, where it is clear the country was robbed.
Sinzohagera, who opened the meeting, emphasized that the Senate’s responsibilities include promoting Burundian reconciliation, which is deeply tied to the nation’s history. He said the Senate, in collaboration with researchers, began investigating the impacts of German and Belgian colonization in 2015. The investigations focused on how colonial rule disrupted Burundi’s traditional social structures, which were based on strong customs, values, and religious principles.
“Our wish is that the results of these investigations, which highlight the atrocities committed by the colonizers—such as ethnic divisions, disruptions to peace and security, social unrest, and segregation—be shared. These actions paralyzed our nation and left it struggling with persistent ethnic conflict,” Sinzohagera said. “We hope these findings will help lift the spirits of the Burundian people.”
The Speaker reminded the audience that before colonization, Burundi was a kingdom where people made most of their tools. This changed with the arrival of the Germans in 1896 and the signing of the 1903 treaty with King Mwezi Gisabo.
The Belgian and German ambassadors at the meeting expressed interest in learning about these colonial realities. The Belgian ambassador stated that his country is open to studying the shared history and working together to build a better future. The German ambassador noted that the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs had organized events to mark the 140th anniversary of the Berlin Conference and pointed to efforts such as the Jean Bershmann research scholarship. He also mentioned a partnership proposal to rehabilitate the Boma in Gitega, transforming it into a museum that would showcase the shared history of both nations. Additionally, he said the ancestral heritage of Burundi would be repatriated.
Burundi’s Reparations Demands
Burundi has requested the following reparations from Germany:
- Financial compensation for the injustices, deaths, confiscations, and destruction inflicted on the Burundian people, particularly for the 1,066 cattle and 2,021 goats that were lost during the colonial era.
- Material compensation through contributions to public works projects, such as schools and hospitals, in areas most affected by forced labor, deportations, and other forms of colonial exploitation.
- Support for rewriting history and a formal apology to the Burundian people.
