This publication is likely to please Burundian nationals, and more

widely any national or international actors interested in the long

Burundian peace process.

It is a crucial and unique work: it is not common for such an

important Burundian personality to share his thoughts with a large

audience. The author relates the many steps it took to build the

"Arusha spirit". Following the mediators' lead -first Nyerere and then

Mandela- many taboos and legitimate or fantasized fears had to

be overcome. Ethnic issues had to be addressed head-on, without

prevarications. This task was considerable, especially in a context

of civil war.

President Buyoya's book is not only a lively, precise and well-documented

personal account; it also constitutes an in depth

analysis of Burundi's tragic history and draws lessons that could be

applied in other countries facing similar crisis.

The author writes is a deeply involved key player, and he is fully

aware of the importance of his role and responsibilities. However, he

claims no preeminence. His modesty must be celebrated: the author

portrays the men and women, from Burundi and elsewhere, who

were fully dedicated to the negotiation process. They all believed

that the negotiations could bring about not only the end of violence

but also the emergence of a new and fairer Burundian society.

The Arusha Agreement enabled the Burundian people to escape

from the spiral of violence in which it was trapped. However, the

author is lucid and realizes that Arusha is not sufficient: it remains a

perfectible starting point.

President Buyoya stands for his convictions with sincerity and

shares his doubts and hopes with the reader. This is what makes this

book particularly valuable.