Rwanda: All For Rwanda – All For Rwanda Calls for Comprehensive Approach in Light of Concerning UK-Rwanda Migration Patnership (08.12.2023)

Burundi: Former Prime Minister Bunyoni owned 153 house and 55 vehicles…

Bunyoni affair: life sentence requested for the former Prime Minister and seizure & sale of his “153 houses and 55 vehicles.” 30 years in prison for Désiré Uwamahoro and the other co-defendants. This is the indictment of the public prosecutor after 4 days of a marathon trial. The defendants demand “unconditional acquittal”” (Antoine Kaburahe, 09.11.2023).

I have written about the Former Burundian Prime Minister Alain-Guillaume Bunyoni. These words and explanations can be repeated, because it gives context to the matter. That’s why I will use them as the trial is going on and has been in works for some time now.

In Burundi there is an on-going criminal case against former Prime Minister Alain-Guillaume Bunyoni. A who has been loyal to the CNDD-FDD and a man that former President Pierre Nkurunziza entrusted with national security organizations.

Bunyoni has held vital roles in the Government of Burundi. In the era of th CNDD-FDD he has rose through the ranks and gotten into prominence. This has done with share brutality and state sponsored violence. That has been done on the behest of the party and with acknowledge of the ones above him.

The Burundi Human Rights Initiative Report from December 2020 describes the man like this:

For years, Burundi’s new Prime Minister, Alain Guillaume Bunyoni, has made his presence felt behind the scenes. His professional demeanour, well-cut suits and meticulous air gave him a veneer of respectability. As his influence grew, however, he quietly cultivated members of the security forces, some of whom were notorious for killing or torturing government opponents. “He hides behind others,” said one of his former colleagues. “The crimes are committed under his complicit watch. Either he agrees to the crimes, or he closes his eyes and lets them happen.” Former colleagues described him as cunning and said he is careful to cover his tracks when it comes to human rights violations. A former official who worked closely with him in the past said he is an intelligent man, but his public persona doesn’t reveal his true character. “He had two faces,” he said. “He had a hidden face that I didn’t see; that’s his current face.” Bunyoni’s hubris and his shrewd but brutal governing style emerged in private and, along with his love of money, have irritated some powerful CNDD-FDD generals. “He’s a man without a heart, without emotion, contrary to Évariste (Ndayishimiye),” said a former CNDD-FDD official” (The Burundi Human Rights Initiative – ‘A STRANGLEHOLD ON BURUNDI’S FUTURE’ December 2020).

When you know all of this about Bunyoni, it is hard to feel sympathy or emotions towards him. Yes, he should have the same rights under the law and be held accountable. In the same regard though, he used his office to enrich himself and his family. The former Prime Minister was able to take so much properties and vehicles. That is just astonishing… and he did it on the watch of previous President Nkurunziza.

This is really showing what the CNDD-FDD is capable of. Not only the massive amount of brutality, lethal orders and other impunity done towards dissidents and activists. No, this shows what sort of possibilities are there for the ones who are in the inner-circle.

As the former appointed Prime Minister and entrusted leader. Bunyoni had a lot of prestige and power. Apparently, he used that to enlarge his wealth and his own stature. Who knows how he was capable of getting over 150 houses and over 50 vehicles. However, he did and now he has to suffer the consequences. He thought he would get away it and never be held accountable for his actions. Now the pendulum has swung his way and he cannot catch up. Neither can his closest associates, who will also face harsh judgement.

There won’t be shed many tears over this. It is just a man who stole and used the office to enrich himself. While he ordered the end of people’s lives or ensured their silence. That’s what he did and now he will possibly be entering a facility where someone knows what he did and that he was in-charge when they were sentenced. There will be many there who could want to revenge or avenge someone they know.

This PM is facing the monster he created himself and now it was his turn to be touched. Peace.

Opinion: Mzee has become a colonial overlord grabbing land in the North…

Government land- Anybody occupying government land (Aswa ranch, Lakang, land acquired for the Madvhani group, etc.) must leave with immediate effect but in any case not later than 3 weeks from today” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 03.11.2023).

Today, we can acknowledge with certainty that the Government of Uganda (GoU) lays claims to land and expropriate it without any consideration, hesitation or plans for the ones living on it. This after years of stalemate and clashes. Because, the state has no answers and only beholden to the companies or foreign investors who “bought” the land.

That’s how the National Resistance Movement (NRM) operates. They are now giving Apaa Village three weeks to move. Others will follow in the Acholi sub-region. As the interests of Kampala/Entebbe is more important than the livelihoods or the pastoralist societies of the North. That is the message I am getting from the President.

He gives the citizens three weeks to relocate, but offers no securities, no basic ways to find new homes or land to settle on. The President is relocating families and villages all for the benefit of a few chosen ones. That’s what his doing and he has no plan or structure in place to give them shelter or a way to make a living.

What the President is now issuing is a case for the Madvhani Group, which have made agreements with the state back in the mid 2000s or around 2006 to be exact. There been plenty of setbacks and pushback on the deal. However, the state has continued and persistent that the group was to takeover 40,000 hectares of land in Amuru district and build Amuru Sugar Works.

While the mentioning of Apaa Village was to sell it to a South African Investor Bruce Martin so he got his own gaming reserve and hunting ground in the area. That was done in 2005 and continued to this day.

Another mentioned case was the sale of Aswa Ranch to the Libyan government in 1998. That’s why we know the state has worked on these cases for years and now suddenly only give a staunch warning.

That’s deliberate and a scare tactic, as there are no mechanisms or anything in place to safeguard the civilians here. Everywhere that the state has sold land. They are only becoming internally displaced people (IDPs) with nowhere to go. While the investors get prime real-estate and get huge chunks of land. That is hurting to know and the President should know better, but he has promised and the investors wants their loot. Therefore, he has to do something, because his not winning by the years going by. His not getting younger either, so he cannot enjoy the spoils if the assets and the land isn’t sold.

That is something we have to consider here, as the President just directs and orders like a colonial master over the sub-region. Where the public are just supposed to listen and if not… they will suffer consequences. The ironies of that, if they do listen… where should they go? Where and what has the state to offer them?

They have just lost everything and what they knew… so that some foreign investors could grab land in Acholiland. That’s the gig here and its infuriating. It just shows the arrogance and the entitlement of the government. As it just takes, take and doesn’t question its own behaviour here.

Acholi deserves better. They do… they are being sold for shiny objects and left out with nothing. While the President and his inner-circle is getting a piece of the action. Peace.

Burundi: Ministere du Commerce, du Transport, de l’Industrie et du Tourisme – Communique ralative a la Mesure d’Embouteillage des Boissons Alcooliseees dont la Teneur en Alcool Depasse 16% (27.10.2023)

Burundi: Congres National pour la Liberte (CNL) – Communique de Presse (17.10.2023)

Burundi: Force de Lutte Contre le Nepotisme et le Favoritisme au Burundi (FOLUCON-F) – Communique de Presse (12.10.2023)

Burundi: A non existing coup d’etat [yet again…]

Burundi: for the first time this Friday morning, heavily armed BSPI (Special Brigade for the Protection of Institutions) officers used police dogs to control people entering the RTNB premises and the few vehicles authorized to enter” (SOS Medias Burundi, 15.09.2023).

All morning and all day of the 16th September 2023 I was anticipating and hurrying checking updates. Since the grapevine and news would come out. However, there was nothing. Nothing new under the sun. A whole bunch of emptiness.

That is fine for President Evariste Ndayishimiye and the Conseil National pour la Défense de la Démocratie–Forces pour la Défense de la Démocratie (CNDD-FDD) which holds an iron grip on power. This has been done for years and his predecessor was preparing for his third term and was crowned as the Supreme Leader of Patriotism. He would later die of unknown circumstances allegedly of cardiac arrest, but plenty speculate it was of COVID-19. The late President ruled the nation for 15 years and was bound to live in excellence after office on a massive salary and Vice-Presidential perks. However, days after going out of office. He was deceased and the successor was already elected to takeover.

That man is the current day President Ndayishimiye. His a man that has followed the footsteps of Nkurunziza. The President has not only followed orders, but been a trusted individual in the eyes of the predecessor. That’s why he was able to be fielded and even trusted to become the President. Because, Nkurunziza wouldn’t want someone who could touch him or take away his lifestyle after the Presidency. It wasn’t without consideration or coordination that Ndayishimiye was picked to be the man to continue the reigns of CNDD-FDD.

The last real plot to do a putsh or coup d’etat was in 2015 and that’s why Nkurunziza fled the nation. Which he returned to days later when the treasonous men was captured, but the army commander who operated the coup did flee the Republic. There has also become an insurgency and a militia, the RED TABARA which exists to end the CNDD-FDD rule. They are fighting in the DR Congo and are allegedly supported by Kigali. While Kigali is denying that, but there are always speculation circulating about these things and someone has to fund these clandestine missions.

President Ndayishimiye isn’t the sort of fella that would travel across the world if his spot or office was in danger. He wouldn’t have gone to Cuba or anywhere else for that matter. If he didn’t think he would easily get home and his people was sought after. That’s not the sort of man he is or gives the impression of being.

Yes, there been speculated previous coup d’etat’s against him. Earlier in 2023, the former Prime Minister Alain Guillaume Bunyoni was supposed to behind a coup as well. However, that seems more like internal squabble and direct power struggle in the CNDD-FDD, as PM hadn’t long ago been a prominent and respected leader within the party. The CNDD-FDD and the authorities did apprehend him in 2023, but there is also rumours that there was preparations for it back in 2022. That’s why the President sacked in April of 2023. Which is a long time to keep someone who is committing treason around you. It is weird, but we don’t know how strong the bonds was between the PM and the President…

What we can say is that this weekend there haven’t been a coup or a plot of a coup d’etat. If that was the case. I would have expected the CNL or OLUCOME to say something. The CNDD-FDD would call for peace and keep constitutional order. While the army would say people should stay calm and restrain themselves until further notice. However, none of that happen and only a single retort has been made and that’s calling it “fake news” and “routine check-up” of the RTNB.

I’m more cynical and would hear news of gun-fire, mass-arrests and decrees from Bujumbura. I would expect pictures of soldiers ambushing popular figures or prominent people within the CNDD-FDD. There would be soldiers on every corner and there wouldn’t be any more surprises. As the new junta and leadership would ensure the CNDD-FDD had to answer for its crimes in office. That’s what would happen or would make sense.

However, this weekend there is no smoke or fire. I would think there would be orders of Imbonerakure to the streets to defend the Republic and its government. That’s what I would expect if anyone tried to topple the CNDD-FDD. That plus the Force de Défense Nationale du Burundi (FDNB) or the National Army to either be part of it or be vigorously on the barricades defending the status quo. Nevertheless, we have seen none of this or any reporting stating this. That’s why you know it is a lot of nothing.

There would be prominent house-arrests and people in the inner-circle of the President apprehended. These would face consequences and be in legal trouble. Their days would be finalized or they would get the offer of living life in exile. That’s why you know there is no coup. The rumours has been unprovoked and without merit.

Yes, the tyrant and his government can continue to rule indefinitely. There is no fierce competition or fear in sight. The CNDD-FDD reign seems to prolonged and the state of affairs is stagnate. The President will continue to be the Head of State. All of the army and other institutions are there to serve the Presidency and anyone in association with him. That’s the gist of things and we shouldn’t be shocked by it.

We should just look for more signs and possible actions if there was a coup d’etat. There would news of whose behind or speculated to be behind it. It would be talks of sponsoring and who could benefit from the coup. That being Rwanda, Uganda or anyone else who has a stake in the internal affairs of Burundi. We know Museveni supported Nkuruniziza when he was in need for direct military support in 2015. The same could easily happen in 2023. Because, Museveni prefers friendly faces in power in his neighbourhood.

Ndayishimiye hasn’t his final day in office just yet. There needs to be whole lot more happening. The centre is holding and I cannot see it happening at this time. To get there it’s a need of lack trust and timing. The ones doing it has to calculate and assume the authorities, the state and the military will be aligned behind them. Because right now… they would all fight against the treasonous pack of people and they would punished with death. That’s why we don’t see it…

The powerhouses of Gitega and Bujumbura will continue. The persistent CNDD-FDD will linger on. Until proven otherwise. Peace.

Burundi: Forces de Defense National du Burundi – Etat Major General – Point de Presse (04.09.2023)

Burundi: Mouvement pour la Solidarite et la Democratie (MSD) – Communique (29.08.2023)

Burundi: Mouvement pour la Solidarite et la Democratie (MSD) – Communique (04.08.2023)