Some of the authors seem not to want the war to end. Amnesty International claimed that hundreds of refugees returning to Burundi from Tanzania and Zaire in recent weeks have been massacred. The statement followed the visit of an Amnesty International delegation, lead by former Canadian Foreign Minister Flora MacDonald, to the region. The report also drew attention to the large number of refugees and displaced people currently within Zaire and set forth recommendations for their protection. Burundian officials continue their efforts to woo neighbouring countries in an effort to remove or circumvent the sanctions imposed following the military coup in July 1996.
Congo is the only country to date to openly resume commercial ties with Burundi.
As a result, Air Burundi now offers a twice weekly commercial flight from Bujumbura and Brazzaville. The four MSF chapters support health centers and hospitals in eight of the fifteen provinces. MSF has issued a press release protesting the demand for royalties and has said it will be reconsidering its assistance to the Burundian health care system if it does not receive an exoneration for the fees. The distributions were initiated following a recent study, which indicated that the nutritional situation among regroupees would deteriorate rapidly without food aid intervention. The regroupees held in these camps have little or no access to food or proper sanitation and water facilities.