The military coup in Burundi unfolded as a significant shift in the power dynamics of the nation, which had been grappling with persistent ethnic tensions and civil unrest. Pierre Buyoya, the military leader, orchestrated the coup against Sylvestre Ntibantunganya, who had only been in office for a little over a year. The motivations behind the coup included the worsening security situation in Burundi, where interethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi groups had escalated, leading to widespread instability and fear among the populace.

Buyoya's coup was not an isolated incident but part of a broader context of conflict in the Great Lakes region of Africa; prior to this, Burundi had witnessed a civil war that had erupted following the assassination of the first democratically elected Hutu president, Melchior Ndadaye, in 1993. This turmoil set the stage for Buyoya's return to power, as he had previously ruled the country from 1987 to 1993 before transitioning to a more democratic governance that ultimately failed to avert violence.

Following the coup, Buyoya implemented various reforms aimed at restoring order and bridging the divides within Burundian society, but his rule remained contentious. The political landscape remained fragile, and while Buyoya sought to negotiate peace, tensions only intensified, eventually leading to further conflict in the years that followed. His leadership was marked by promises of reconciliation, yet the lasting effects of ethnic divisions continued to impact Burundi’s socio-political fabric.