A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF BURUNDI'S TRACK RECORD IN ADHERING TO CONSTITUTIONALISM AND THE RULE OF LAW

TABLE OF CONTENtS

DECLARATION ...................................................................................................................... i

APPROVAL ............................................................................................................................ ii

DEDICATION ........................................................................................................................ iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ...................................................................................................... iv

LIST 0 F CASES ..................................................................................................................... v

LIST OF STATUTES ............................................................................................................. vi

LIST OF ACRONYMS ......................................................................................................... vii

TABLE OF CONTENTS ..................................................................................................... viii

ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................... xi

CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................................................... 1

GENERAL INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................ 1

I .0 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... I

1.1 Background of the study .................................................................................................... I

1.2 Statement of the problem ................................................................................................... 3

1.3 Purpose of the study .......................................................................................................... 5

1.4 General objective ............................................................................................................... 6

1.5 Specific objectives of the study ......................................................................................... 6

1.6 Research Questions ............................................................................................................ 6

I. 7 Scope of the study .............................................................................................................. 7

1.8 Methodology ...................................................................................................................... 7

1.8.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 7

1.8.2 Research design .............................................................................................................. 7

1.8.3 Data collection ................................................................................................................ 7

1.8 .4 Data analysis ................................................................................................................... 8

1.8.5 Time frame ..................................................................................................................... 8

1.9 Limitations of the study ..................................................................................................... g

1.1 0 Literature review .............................................................................................................. 8

1.10.1 Rule of law .................................................................................................................... 0

1.1 0.1.1 Montesquieu and the rule of law ............................................................................... 9

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1.1 0.1.2 Dicey's theory of rule of law .................. ........ .......... ............... ........ ..... ... .... .. .. ....... ... 9

1.1 0.1 .3 Busingye on rule of law ............... ......... .................. ........ ........... ......... ........... ... ........ 1 I

1.10.1.4 OlokaOnyango on rule oflaw .. ....................... ......................................... ............... 13

1.1 0.2 Democracy ..................................................................................... ................... .......... 18

1.1 0.3 Separation of powers ....................... ................................ .......... ................. ... .. ........... 1.9

1.11 Synopsis .... ............................................ ......................................... ................ ....... .. ....... 20

CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................................. 22

THE LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK OF BURUNDI'S .................. 22

2.1 Legal framework ......................................... .. ................ .. ........... ....................................... ·22

2.1.1 The powers ofthe executive branch ............. ................................................................ 22

2.1.2. The powers of the judicial branch ............... .......... ....... ........ .............................. .. ....... 24

2.1.3 The powers of the legislature ...... .. ............................................. ......... ....... ................... 25

2.2 International framework ................... ................... .. ......... .......... .. ..................... : ............... 26

2.2.1 The Arusha peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi .................................... ·26

2.2.1.1 The Executive Branch ............................................................................................... 27

2.2.l.2Powers of the judicial branch ..................................................................................... 29

2.2.1.3Powers ofthe legislature .. ............................................. .............................................. 32

2.3 ANALYSIS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POWERS OF ORGANS OF ... 36

CHAPTER THREE ............................................................................................................. 40

THE INDEPENDENCY OF THE ORGANS OF GOVERNMENT IN BURUNDI ..... 40

3.0 Brief analysis of independence of organs ............................... ......................................... 40

3.1 Historical background .................... ... ........................ ............... ......... ............................... 40

3.2 The independence of the judiciary .................................................... ............ ... .. .......... .... 44

3.3 The Independence of the Legislature .. ......................................................................... .. .. 4 7

3.4 The independence of the executive ...... ........... .. .............................................................. 48

ABSTRACT This research was focused on the role of rule of law in ensuring the adherence of Burundi to

constitutionalism in particular considering its success and challenges. The work begins by giving

an introduction that gave the historical background of Burundi's government from independence

and defined democracy and separation of powers.

The study was carried out with an aim of establishing the extent to which Burundi has ensured

the adherence to the rule of law by the different organs of the government and how it has faced

challenges it is faced with, which among others include frustration of the government itself and

population pressure where there is an infringement on such rights promoting rule of law in the

country. The study will attempt to enlarge the scope of knowledge in the Jield of Administrative

Law in Burundi which is of great importance due to the fact that it affects all the organs of

government and especially the judiciary.

Data collection in the research study was acquired using qualitative research method using books

from the library and online sources.

The research was concluded by providing findings and recommendations to address the

challenges faced by Burundi's government in applying rule of law.

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