Burundi is in a Tailspin

Burundi is inching ever closer to disaster.  The crisis began last year, when President Pierre Nkurinziza decided to run for a constitutionally dubious third term in office. That set off protests, a violent suppression of those protests, and a short lived coup. Now, Nkurinziza is consolidating his hold on power, there is great fear that the situation may devolve into a full blown civil war, and given the history of the region, perhaps even genocide.

The world is pretty aware of this. But the international community seems unable to stop Burundi from sliding into deeper conflict. Why?

I put that question to Dr. Cara Jones, an associate professor at Mary Baldwin College. Dr. Jones offers some concise background on the history of this conflict and explains why observers are so concerned that this may spiral out of control and have profound implications not just for Burundi, but for the entire region.

If you have twenty minutes and want a deeper and nuanced understanding of the crisis in Buru…