1988 ethnic violence in Burundi

Ethnic massacres in Burundi in 1988 were pogroms of Tutsi minority members by Hutu ethnic group members, followed by large-scale retaliatory massacres of Hutu carried out by the Tutsi-dominated army, which took place in August 1988 in the communes of Ntega and Marangara in northern Burundi.

The Hutu were the largest ethnic group in Burundi, but since 1965, power, privileges, and wealth had been reserved exclusively for members of the Tutsi minority. In August 1988, a spontaneous Hutu uprising broke out in the communes of Ntega and Marangara in the north of the country, triggered by provocations from local Tutsi officials and fears of a repeat of the 1972 genocide. During several days of riots, several hundred Tutsi were killed, including many women and children. In retaliation, the government army massacred between 15,000 and 30,000 Hutu, forcing another 50,000 to flee the country. The massacres in Ntega and Marangara sparked international outrage, which compelled President Pierre Buyoya to initiate a process of democratization.