[AfricaRealities.com] Bridging Burundi’s Dangerous Divisions



				Bridging Burundi's Dangerous Divisions Central Africa cannot afford to let the president's irresponsible wish for a third term tip the country into ethnic strife.

				View on www.nytimes.com	Preview by Yahoo

Bridging Burundi's Dangerous Divisions

By ETIENNE MASHULI and JOHNNIE CARSONMAY 18, 2015

The coup attempt in the central African nation of Burundi should trigger alarm bells among those concerned about peace and stability in one of Africa's most volatile regions. Even though the coup appears to have failed, political and ethnic tensions are running high. Burundi's history of genocide, civil war and refugee exodus are a grim reminder of what might follow.

The attempted ouster of Burundi's president, Pierre Nkurunziza, followed days of violent protests against his decision to run for a third term. Confrontations between the police and protesters have left at least 15 dead, including two police officers.

Some protesters have been involved in the stoning and burning of suspected Nkurunziza sympathizers. With the president seemingly determined to hold on to power, the country is dangerously divided. The instability and violence do not augur well for the prospect of a free and fair election in June.

A dispute over presidential term limits is at the heart of the crisis, not the Hutu-Tutsi ethnic politics that have divided Burundi in the past. Burundi's 2000 peace accord, which ended a seven-year civil war, and its 2005 Constitution both stipulate that presidents are limited to two terms in office.

Mr. Nkurunziza first came to power in 2005, when he was elected by Parliament. Because he was not elected by "universal direct suffrage," as mandated by Article 96 of the Constitution, the president claims that only his second term is covered by the article's term limit clause. But opponents argue that according to Article 7, the people's will is sovereign, whether it is indicated by direct elections or mediated by their representatives in Parliament; in other words, they maintain that Mr. Nkurunziza's election in 2005 counted as his first term.

Maj. Gen. Godefroid Niyombare's decision to try to depose Mr. Nkurunziza is evidence that the political and military elites are themselves deeply divided over the issue. (According to a Reuters report, the general is now under arrest.) Both sides of this conflict have the capacity to mobilize loyalists and wreak violence.

Burundi's army is especially volatile, comprising an amalgamation of militias organized around ethnic quotas. The president's party, the National Council for the Defense of Democracy, also counts among its membership hard-liners with the potential to inflict violence on opponents.

An escalation of the crisis in Burundi is still preventable. But the longer the conflict continues, the harder it will be for the international community to come up with a viable solution.

The United States has been focused on the Burundi problem for several months. The former Wisconsin senator Russ Feingold, who was until February the United States special envoy for the Great Lakes region of Africa, warned of impending problems should Mr. Nkurunziza attempt to run for a third term. In April, the assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor, Tom Malinowski, traveled to Burundi to persuade Mr. Nkurunziza not to risk a new round of conflict. The presence in the region last week of the State Department's most senior Africa expert, Assistant Secretary Linda Thomas-Greenfield, also reflects Washington's concern to head off trouble in Burundi.

Much of the international effort has been concentrated on forcing Mr. Nkurunziza to step down. While the focus has understandably been on the president's third-term gambit, the United States and the international community should also put pressure on the opposition parties to respect the rule of law. A solution is possible only if both the government and the opposition are willing to compromise. The two sides must negotiate an end to violence and work out a political transition that rapidly returns Burundi to democratic, constitutional rule.

Historically, Burundian political parties have used ethnicity to mobilize support. To his credit, Mr. Nkurunziza, a former Hutu rebel leader, did succeed in reconciling Burundi's Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups and establishing a working consensus. The danger is that some will try to exploit a crisis that is about governance and turn it into a tribal conflict.

To restore Burundi's democracy and prevent atrocities, the international community should impose immediate travel and financial sanctions on anyone who incites ethnic hatred. Leaders of the nonviolent opposition must also get international support for their quest to hold free, fair and well-monitored elections. And just as she did over the threat of violence in Nigeria's recent election, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, should issue a public warning that anyone engaged in atrocities will be liable to investigation and prosecution.

The East African community of countries and the African Union have issued strong condemnations of the coup, a positive step. But they also need international backing to help resolve Burundi's conflict.

Even if he has survived the attempted ouster, Mr. Nkurunziza must be persuaded to abandon his re-election plans and make way for transparent elections; however, this is likely to happen only through a negotiated settlement that guarantees Mr. Nkurunziza a safe departure from office. He should also issue an immediate appeal to his supporters, especially the youth wing of his party, to stop fomenting violence.

In the long term, Burundi needs more aid from the international community to offer a better future to the country's marginalized youth. Even before this round of instability, the country's economy was feeble. Without major investment in education and job creation, Burundi will continue to be vulnerable to the entrepreneurs of violence.

Etienne Mashuli, a Soros New American fellow at Yale, is a graduate student in African studies. Johnnie Carson, a former assistant secretary of state for African affairs, is a senior fellow at the Johnson Center for the Study of American Diplomacy, also at Yale.

A version of this op-ed appears in print on May 19, 2015, in The International New York Times.

###

"Hate Cannot Drive Out Hate. Only Love Can Do That", Dr. Martin Luther King.

__._,_.___

Posted by: Nzinink <nzinink@yahoo.com>

Reply via web post

•

Reply to sender

•

Reply to group

•

Start a New Topic

•

Messages in this topic (1)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish.
I have loved justice and hated iniquity: therefore I die in exile.
The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.
When the white man came we had the land and they had the bibles; now they have the land and we have the bibles.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Voice of the Poor, the Weak and Powerless.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Post message: AfricaRealities@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe: AfricaRealities-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe: AfricaRealities-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
List owner: AfricaRealities-owner@yahoogroups.com
__________________________________________________________________

Please consider the environment before printing this email or any attachments.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-http://www.africarealities.com/

-https://www.facebook.com/africarealities

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-New International Scholarships opportunities: http://www.scholarshipsgate.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Visit Your Group

• Privacy • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

__,_._,___

Comments

Africa Realities Media offre un espace aux écrivains, chercheurs, experts, activistes, voix communautaires, militants, analystes et personnes ayant une expérience vécue qui souhaitent contribuer à des contenus réfléchis, responsables et courageux sur les changements nécessaires dans la région des Grands Lacs, ainsi que sur les réalités politiques, économiques, culturelles et sociales africaines souvent ignorées, minimisées ou mal représentées. Nos articles et vidéos visent à ouvrir le débat, renforcer la sensibilisation, encourager la pensée critique et favoriser une réflexion plus profonde sur les réalités vécues par les populations africaines. Nous voulons aider les peuples de la région des Grands Lacs à mieux comprendre leurs droits, notamment leurs droits humains, leur droit au développement, leur droit à la dignité, à la sécurité, au bien-être et à une vie meilleure. À travers nos contenus, nous cherchons également à rappeler aux décideurs, aux institutions publiques, aux acteurs régionaux et internationaux, ainsi qu’aux responsables politiques, leur devoir de transparence, de responsabilité et de redevabilité envers les populations qu’ils prétendent servir. Notre objectif est de contribuer à une culture de vérité, de justice, de participation citoyenne et de protection égale pour tous les peuples africains.

Why Africa Realities Media Is Different

Africa Realities Media speaks to Africa and to the developed world. Many abuses facing African people are committed by African states and ruling elites, but they are often protected by international silence, lobbying, public relations, trade interests, migration deals and unequal global accountability. While governments pay lobbyists to present a good image abroad, ordinary African people continue to face violence, hunger, disease, poverty, repression and exclusion. We challenge the normalisation of African suffering and demand equal truth, equal justice and equal protection.

Pourquoi Africa Realities Media est différent?

Africa Realities Media s’adresse à l’Afrique et au monde développé. De nombreux abus subis par les peuples africains sont commis par des États africains et des élites dirigeantes, mais ils sont souvent protégés par le silence international, le lobbying, les relations publiques, les intérêts commerciaux, les accords migratoires et une responsabilité mondiale inégale. Tandis que des gouvernements paient des lobbyistes pour présenter une bonne image à l’étranger, des Africains ordinaires continuent de faire face à la violence, à la faim, aux maladies, à la pauvreté, à la répression et à l’exclusion. Nous contestons la normalisation de la souffrance africaine et exigeons une vérité égale, une justice égale et une protection égale.

Exposing Injustice in Africa

Africa Realities Media is an independent African accountability platform based in London. We report, analyse and challenge the systems that shape African suffering, silence African victims and protect abusive power. We are not here to repeat diplomatic language. We are here to ask the questions that are often avoided: why are African deaths treated as normal? Why are African victims given less urgency? Why are governments that imprison, exclude, displace or kill their own people protected when they serve powerful international interests?

Africa Realities Media gives space to writers, researchers, experts, activists, community voices, campaigners, analysts and people with lived experience who want to contribute thoughtful, responsible and courageous content about the changes needed in the region, as well as the political, economic, cultural and social African realities that are often ignored, minimised or misrepresented. Our articles and videos aim to encourage debate, raise awareness, stimulate critical thinking and support reflection. We seek to help people in the Great Lakes Region understand their rights to human rights, development and wellbeing, while also encouraging decision-makers to be more transparent, responsive and accountable.

Appel à contributions

Sensibilisez le public aux causes qui vous tiennent à cœur. Prenez part au changement que vous souhaitez voir émerger. Aidez à combattre l'injustice partout où elle se manifeste.

Africa Realities Media accueille des articles originaux, analyses, tribunes, réflexions communautaires et commentaires fondés sur des faits concernant la région des Grands Lacs africains, ainsi que les questions liées à la justice, aux droits humains, à la gouvernance, aux conflits, à la paix, aux réfugiés, aux ressources naturelles et à la responsabilité publique en Afrique.

Nous accueillons également les annonces concernant de nouvelles ou d'anciennes publications liées à nos domaines d'intérêt. Vous pouvez annoncer gratuitement votre publication, notamment un livre, un rapport, une étude, un article académique ou tout autre travail pertinent.

Les articles doivent être rédigés en anglais ou en français et ne doivent pas dépasser 1 500 mots.

Veuillez inclure le nom complet de l'auteur, qui sera publié avec l'article s'il est accepté.

Avant de soumettre votre article, veuillez d'abord lire nos pages du site web afin de vérifier si votre article correspond à nos priorités éditoriales, à nos thèmes et à nos domaines d'intérêt.

Si vous avez un article, un commentaire ou une annonce de publication à partager avec un public plus large, veuillez l'envoyer par email à :

africarealitiesmedia@gmail.com

Nous étudierons la possibilité de publier gratuitement les articles et annonces de publications appropriés s'ils répondent à nos critères éditoriaux, notamment la pertinence, la clarté, l'originalité, l'intérêt public, le respect des communautés concernées et l'utilisation responsable des informations et des preuves.

Les articles sont publiés tels qu'ils sont soumis s'ils répondent à nos critères et à notre politique éditoriale. Nous ne procédons pas à une modification supplémentaire de votre article avant sa publication.

Africa Realities Media | African Human Rights and Accountability

Search This Blog

About Africa Realities Media

Category Posts