We got the following new from one of our colleagues/researcher who focuses on Burundi According to a provisional report about the worsening situation in Burundi, the situation is very worrisome. In May, the government has incarcerated the most important defender of human rights in Burundi, Pierre Claver Mbonimpa on bogus charges (endangering national security because he criticized the government live on air on RPA) and outlawed public demonstrations. Impunity and the non-performance of security forces is rampant. Killers do not have to fear any sanctions, thus political violence and murders are rampant. The government party CNDD-FDD is weaponizing its youth wing, the IMBONERAKURE and is sending them to the DRC for training (this was what Mbonimpa criticized). Although there is much talk about the final implementation of a truth and reconciliation commission (14 years after they were stipulated by the Arusha Accords), its members, as well as the members of the independent electoral commission will be hand-picked by president Nkurunziza himself. Nkurunziza is also trying to change the constitution to run again in 2015 and basically succeeded... There is a strong possibility that the TRC will be used as an instrument to shame and pressure opposition parties and their leaders as the RPF practices it in Rwanda for years now. Probably the worst development is that the ruling party CNDD-FDD wants to abolish the 60%-40% quota system that ensured Tutsi representation even though a predominantly Hutu party won the elections by landslide in 2010. If the CNDD-FDD follows through with this plan, which of course allows them to provide some of their patronage with posts previously occupied by Tutsi, the armed conflict in Burundi which has simmered on low intensity since 2009 (murders, incarcerations, torture but no outright war) risks to again receive an ethnic dimension. The Tutsi are factually already marginalized in many parts of the country. If they lose the quota representation, the possibility that the CNDD-FDD forces predominantly Tutsi-parties like the MSD and the UPRONA into armed resistance is unprecedented. This however reciprocally invokes the dangers that the CNDD-FDD will use the IMBONERAKURE to terrorize Tutsi settlements into submission or that even Rwanda might intervene... There is still a window of opportunity for international pressure! With the elections scheduled for 2015, the eyes of the region will rest on Burundi once again. Burundi is also highly dependent on budget support and development aid. We can pressure Nkurunziza on giving up his totalitarian aspirations and divisive ways and to release political prisoners... but Burundi needs to move into the international focus!
Posted on: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 15:14:10 +0000
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