- Title: BURUNDI: High hopes for peace and high prices this Christmas
- Date: 24th December 2008
- Summary: BUJUMBURA, BURUNDI (DECEMBER 23, 2008) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CHRISTMAS TREES ON STREETS PEOPLE WALKING ON STREETS VARIOUS OF MARKET
- Embargoed: 8th January 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Burundi
- Country: Burundi
- Topics: Communications
- Reuters ID: LVABB49V5CN4EVN933R7PN2YPWQM
- Story Text: On the streets of Bujumbura, Burundi's capital, residents are busy bargaining with traders for the best deals. Like many around the world, they too are preparing for Christmas festivities.
Burundians have extra reason to celebrate, the government and the last remaining rebel group recently committed to implement a peace agreement on December 4, raising hopes for a lasting peace to the small East African nation.
The agreement had been delayed by a dispute over the insurgents' transformation into a political party.
The Forces for National Liberation (FNL), whose fighters hold the hills outside Bujumbura, had dropped their demand to form a political party called "Palipehutu", which means party for the liberation of Hutus and agreed to start disarming and demobilise their fighters. Burundi's constitution does not allow parties with ethnic affiliations.
Still, despite the progress made on the political front, many here say they have an even greater concern. Rising food prices throughout the year have meant that they cannot afford to buy as much food as they would like because it simply costs too much.
"I came to buy meat for the Christmas festivities in order to make the children happy but the prices continue to rise," said Pascasie Sinzohagera, a Bujumbura resident.
"One kilo of sweet peppers used to cost 400 or 500 Burundi francs (0.30 to 0.40 USD) but now one kilo costs 1500 Burundi francs (1.2 USD) and if the price goes down, one kilo costs 1300 Burundi francs (1.07 USD)," said Godelive Ntihabose, another Bujumbura resident.
Even though the country's annual inflation rate fell slightly to 24.3 percent in November from 24.9 percent the previous month on lower oil prices, life is still difficult for many of its citizens. Poverty and unemployment are rife.
Burundi has also lowered oil prices by an average of 25 percent this year but like many central African economies, has suffered from high crude and commodity prices.
"This year people will not have fun like last year. Last year it was nice because there was no conflict between those who bring goods and the customs. Goods were not taxed as highly. Businessmen do not like this but it is the customers who suffer," said Moise Bigirimana, a Bujumbura resident.
"We will not be celebrating Christmas this year. We do not think that this will be necessary," said Salvatore Kabahazi, a street vendor who was peddling christmas trees to passers-by.
Burundi is still recovering from civil conflict that raged for two decades until 2005 and killed around 300,000 people.
The landlocked east African nation of eight million people has a largely agricultural economy based on tea and coffee. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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