

Burundi: Les Organisations de la Societe Civile Burundaise – Appel a la Resonsabilitie et a la Solidarite Face au Coronavirus (COVID-19) au Burundi (19.03.2020)







The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) held an Oral briefing by the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi, at 43rd Human Rights Council session on the 9th March 2020 ahead of elections later this year in Burundi. What was said there is interesting and the international community should look into this. As the monitoring of the situation on the grounds are hard, as the authorities and government of Burundi has blocked it.
This is clearly 8 risk factors ahead of the elections. This can be as bloody and a big off a crisis like around 2015. As the state is in a worse situation, than at the last go-around. The state is more violent and brutal. Because it has gotten away with it and can continue with the evil spiral against enemies without any fear of repercussions or even sanctions. They are just left alone and can clean their own slate.
The risk factors ahead is on political, economic and security instability (1),
climate of impunity for serious human rights violations (2 & 3),
existence of intentions and motives to resort to violence (4),
capacity of diverse actors to resort to violence (5),
lack of solid representative and national civil society (6),
enabling circumstances and a conducive environment to violence and human rights violations (7) and existing triggering factors for violence (8).
All of those points are here explained by the oral briefing, which is stating the reality on the ground. It is bleak and not rosy. This here is not grounds for a free and fair election, but for a bloody enterprise keeping CNDD-FDD at power, at any cost and with all willpower existing.
Look!
“We note a deterioration of the situation in regards to risk factor n°1 on political, economic and security instability. Despite the official statements from Burundian authorities claiming that there is peace and security in Burundi, several serious incidents that occurred recently is evidence of the volatility of the situation” (…) “The economic situation has further deteriorated. Decisions by the Government to monopolise the trade of gold and foreign currencies, the prohibition of foreign money transfers by the main mobile telecommunication operators, as well as the management takeover of the coffee sector by the government – one of the major export sectors of the country – are all last resort measures to rectify the acute lack of foreign currencies, which prevents imports and creates shortages of basic products and medicine, which has a negative impact on the enjoyment of human rights by all Burundians” (OCHA – ‘Oral briefing by the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi, at 43rd Human Rights Council session’ 09.03.2020).
“The second and third risk factors related to the widespread climate of impunity for serious human rights violations, recent and old, and to the weakness of State structures able to prevent or halt potential violations remain relevant. Given that the related indicators have more of a structural dimension, there has not been any significant evolution during the last months. Imbonerakure continue to enjoy near total impunity” (OCHA – ‘Oral briefing by the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi, at 43rd Human Rights Council session’ 09.03.2020).
“We observed a more ambiguous development regarding risk factor n°4, namely the existence of intentions and motives to resort to violence, particularly the desire of the Conseil national pour la défense de la démocratie-Forces de défense de la démocratie (CNDD-FDD) to hold onto power, including by using past grievances and cases of impunity for political purposes” (OCHA – ‘Oral briefing by the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi, at 43rd Human Rights Council session’ 09.03.2020)
“Concerning risk factor n°5, the capacity of diverse actors to resort to violence and to carry out violations, the recent security incidents are all reminiscent of the existence of different armed groups and their capacity to intervene on Burundian territory. ” (OHCA – ‘Oral briefing by the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi, at 43rd Human Rights Council session’ 09.03.2020).
“The lack of motivating factors such as a solid, organised and representative national civil society; and free, diversified and independent national media (risk factor n°6), has seen an increase. (OHCA – ‘Oral briefing by the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi, at 43rd Human Rights Council session’ 09.03.2020).
“Risk factor 7 on enabling circumstances and a conducive environment to violence and human rights violations, including the manipulation – for political purposes- of identity, past events or motives for engaging in violence, has increased” (OHCA – ‘Oral briefing by the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi, at 43rd Human Rights Council session’ 09.03.2020).
“With regards to risk factor 8, i.e. the existence of triggering factors such as the holding of elections, we note the ongoing preparation of different ballots between May and August 2020, and some aspects of the electoral process have already prompted some questions and concerns” (OHCA – ‘Oral briefing by the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi, at 43rd Human Rights Council session’ 09.03.2020).
That is enough for now. The 8 risk factors are active and the worrying signs are all there. Let see, if there will be any outrage or if people let it slide. Since, this is the wrong zip-code to worry about. The enemies of the state can just die and be violently taken away. This is what the authorities and continue to do. Elections tend to amplify it too.
We can rest assured that election violence occure, it is sponsored by the state and to significantly impress their master. That is what they do, what we cannot know is to what extent and how many victims that will be counted. Every single life touched by this is one to much. However, don’t expect an outcry or such. Only bitter silence, as several more lives get taken away on the mantle of reigning supreme. Peace.












““The Supreme Leader is dead.”
“Long live the Supreme Leader.”” – Kylo Ren and Armitage Hux (Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi, 2017)
The National Assembly today voted for a bill, which the President Pierre Nkurunziza become the Supreme Leader of Patriotism. The bill also makes him the headliner- or the chair at the 1st July or National Day every single year.
Therefore, the state is making a law that is to benefit Nkurunziza. Surely, what the National Assembly was not saying the pay-off and the possible perks with the position of Supreme Guide of Patriotism. It is not like the President going to go away for free or not be paid. The reports earlier in the year was $550,000 USD and the same benefits like the Vice-President for life.
Supreme Guide is French for Supreme Leader. Whose now the Republic’s mentor or guide, the man whose the paramount- or the ultimate leader of the Republic, apparently. His the man who has the highest regard, the man who has the mind and spirit to guide the nation. Even when his not in the highest office, but is retired as such.
The others who is titled like this is the Supreme Leader of North Korea and Iran. Also, the Supreme Leader of the First Order in Star Wars. Therefore, this title isn’t known for its gentle leadership. Nevertheless, it makes it weirder that his stepping down with this title.
Usually, the men (yes, the men) with these titles are in it for life. They are Supreme Leaders to their final breath. They are not stepping down, retiring looking at the geese and eating the gander. No, they are hanging in the chambers of power. They are making power moves and ensuring that other people who are in their way stop breathing.
That is why the title today and the votes of 91 for Nkurunziza to become the Supreme Leader is weird. As well, as the supposed rumoured pay-off for his retirement. Because, it is all a bit high regarding for someone stepping down. His already been called the “eternal leader” or the imboneza yamaho. So, it is not like he haven’t gotten the glory for his existence already.
The Supreme Leader of Burundi is living in Gitega, the moved capital and the man who changed the constitution to let him run again. The man who rebelled, used military force, killed off plenty of his opponents and nearly made all opposition extinct. Is now bowing off as the Supreme Leader of Patriotism.
This must be seen as a stepping stone for the Supreme Leader of Burundi. As he will surely take the reigns again. The man being the Presidential Candidate in 2020 and for the next term for the CNDD-FDD. Will only be his loyal water-boy and his “Dmitrij Medvedev”, who get’s his term and then back-down for the “Vladimir Putin” to return. However, that is only speculations of the shady closed-doors agreements made between the gentlemen, but don’t be shocked if it happens. The Supreme Leader isn’t advanced age yet.
If not, we can always discuss if Kylo Ren took over for Snoke as the Supreme Leader of the First Order in Star Wars. Peace.

The World Bank working paper named ‘Elite Capture of Foreign Aid – Evidence from Offshore Bank Accounts’, which was finally released yesterday is a devastating read. Not because of the facts in it, but because of the extent of the misuse and theft of aid money. The World Bank are now proving by small samples how much of their loans, grants and funds, which is given by donors to the WB, which happens to be moved to tax havens by the regimes that needs it. That is eating of the plate of the poorest and living lavish on others people’s dime.
Just in the Annex, the truth really comes forward, where it is only a small samples, but showing the distasteful enterprise still. Like from table one. You can see that a certain amount of African countries have taken out huge funds into havens deposits and non-haven deposits.
The report explains this about the table one: “The table shows the 22 countries in our main sample and presents summary statistics for the main variables in our analysis. The sample includes all countries for which annual disbursements from the World Bank are equivalent to at least 2 percent of annual GDP on average. Sample mean is the average of the 22 countries in the sample. Annual WB aid (% of GDP) is annual disbursements from the World Bank as a fraction of annual GDP. Annual ODA aid (% of GDP) is annual Official Development Assistance (ODA) from all sources as a fraction of annual GDP. Haven deposits is foreign deposits held in the 17 countries classified as havens. Non-haven deposits is foreign deposits held in the countries not classified as havens” (World Bank Feb 2020).
| Nation | Haven (million USD) | Non-Haven (million USD) |
| Burkina Faso | 32 | 88 |
| Burundi | 103 | 19 |
| Eritrea | 8 | 11 |
| Ethiopia | 64 | 155 |
| Ghana | 76 | 446 |
| Guinea-Bissau | 8 | 16 |
| Madagascar | 193 | 232 |
| Malawi | 31 | 82 |
| Mali | 27 | 133 |
| Mauritania | 32 | 150 |
| Mozambique | 40 | 161 |
| Niger | 29 | 79 |
| Rwanda | 149 | 41 |
| Sao Tome and Principe | 4 | 8 |
| Sierra Leone | 32 | 82 |
| Tanzania | 145 | 437 |
| Uganda | 73 | 188 |
| Zambia | 117 | 306 |
When you add into the A6 Table of the modestly aid-dependent countries. You see yet more African countries, where the money a flowing out of the coffers. Where surely not all aid is going where its supposed too.
The report explains table A6 like this: “The table shows the 24 countries for which annual disbursements from the World Bank are between 1% and 2% of annual GDP on average. is the average of the 24 countries in the sample. Annual WB aid (% of GDP) is annual disbursements from the World Bank as a fraction of annual GDP. Sample mean is the average of the 22 countries in the sample. WB aid disbursements is annual disbursements from the World Bank as a fraction of annual GDP. Annual ODA aid (% of GDP) is annual Official Development Assistance (ODA) from all sources as a fraction of annual GDP. Haven deposits is foreign deposits held in the 17 countries classified as havens. Non-haven deposits is foreign deposits held in the countries not classified as havens” (World Bank Feb 2020).
| Nation | Haven (million USD) | Non-Haven (million USD) |
| Benin | 42 | 96 |
| Cape Verde | 14 | 20 |
| Central African Republic | 18 | 53 |
| Chad | 11 | 91 |
| Comoros | 7 | 27 |
| Democratic Republic of Congo | 910 | 93 |
| Cote d’Ivoire | 387 | 787 |
| Gambia | 24 | 82 |
| Guinea | 54 | 114 |
| Kenya | 1277 | 1784 |
| Lesotho | 11 | 28 |
| Senegal | 253 | 487 |
| Togo | 82 | 146 |
Without going into deep technicalities of these operations, neither how the World Bank came through these numbers. We can see there is a staggering amount of funds that disappear and goes missing. Which was supposed to go to development or directly to support the state functions. Which happens to end up in tax-havens, surely by someone closely associated with the state or heads of state. Since, these sorts of amounts couldn’t have left the nations without the approval of the executive or head of state.
We can also clearly see, that some aid is directly feeding the rich and keeping tax-havens alive. Giving them financial stimulus and also covering the expenses of the elites in the respective places. There is certainly a mismanagement and a need for more oversight from the World Bank. But also more mechanisms to stop the misuse of aid. If it is supposed to help and not just create a very vastly elite in the nation in question. Because, with this sort of operations, they have clearly achieved that. Peace.