Burundi’s tense electoral period in 2015 changed the face of both political participation and conflict for the country. The elections served as a litmus test for the trajectory of democracy, heavily contested due to the President’s decision to run for a third mandate after he was set to step down from power. However, a key element often overlooked in this moment in history is the role that social media played in permanently shifting political strategy, and changing the organization of political activism both within and outside of Burundi’s borders. A younger generation using social media to connect amongst themselves found leaders outside of traditional spaces. Moreover, social media became a key avenue for sharing information in the wake of diminishing space for traditional media, such as radio.
This paper utilizes data collected prior to and during the 2015 electoral period, including interviews and participant observation, to explore the ways in which a new generation of citizens has harnessed the power of social media as a tool for activism. In particular, the paper explores two themes: the impact Burundian citizens had on the trajectory of the political sphere by engaging in new forms of communication – both within and outside the country, and the power that information sharing gave to citizens during a time when formal institutions were weak. Lessons learned from this case outline key elements about activism that remain understudied, and are relevant far beyond Burundi's borders.
The new wave of information accessibility through programs like Whatsapp and Facebook has fundamentally changed how rhetoric and advocacy tactics work within nation-states. Burundi, often overlooked as a country that can teach us global lessons about conflict and democracy, serves as an important case highlighting how new technologies serve to mobilize and inform citizens participating in democracy. How does citizen-led information sharing shape the trajectory of democracy? In a country coming out of a post-conflict period, how does social media allow citizens to reinvent advocacy and empowerment? What are the risks that social media presents in the wake of conflict? This paper seeks to answer these questions from Burundi’s case, highlighting contributions of Burundian activists and citizens.