Migration in Burundi: History, Current Trends and Future - MGSoG ...

10. Conclusion
Diaspora
The Burundian diaspora in the Netherlands operate at a level in which they interact and
communicate through social networks that are likely to lead to isolation, especially due to
the language barrier and lack of access to the labour market for the highly skilled. These
factors hinder their full participation in Dutch society. Use of opportunity structures
available within the Dutch political system has enabled Burundian diaspora organisations
to mobilize through formal structures and participate in development programmes in
their country of origin. The system has also facilitated their network building and the
formation of mutual support structures. This is evident in the many groups that are being
formally organized in order to maximize on the full range of their capabilities as they
focus on various migration and development issues in the country of origin and residence.
Burundian diaspora in the Netherlands are beginning to recognize that their formidable
strength lies in working together with fellow diasporas and migrants on national, regional,
and global levels. This is evident in the initiatives that target the EU-wide Burundian
community as well as the intensification of engagement with the reconciliation,
reconstruction, and democratization processes at home.
Migration Policies
Although the Dutch Government already recognizes the potential role of migrant
organizations in the Netherlands, it could still support the creation of a more enabling
environment in which diasporas and migrant communities can actualize their aspirations
to become more politically and socially mobile. Such an environment would have
significant implications for development of their communities of origin in Burundi as
well as communities in which they live in the Netherlands. This is more so the case for
members of the Burundian community who still have to deal with traumatic experiences
during the war, their inability to access the labour market in the Netherlands, and the lack
of support networks due to the limited numbers of Burundians in the Netherlands.
The Burundi government on the other hand seems to recognize the role of their
diaspora, but due to the absence of formal structures for engagement with the diaspora
and a comprehensive migration and development policy, endeavours to attract the highly
skilled Burundians would not yield much result. Furthermore lack of national
instruments to address migration and development issues would hinder efforts that
involve the international community as many countries begin to establish links to global
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