Burundi: Bunyoni deserves justice, even if he served injustice to others…

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).

Now in 2023 after all these years of loyalty. It is now reported that his taken into custody and is facing charges in an alleged coup d’etat plot. Meaning his facing serious allegation and charges. Which can be the nail in the coffin for the former Prime Minister.

While some are concerned that he will be taken into custody and not have a fair trail. Well, he didn’t give that to his enemies. Neither did his victims ever get to speak or get their fair trail. This man has been despicable and sinister in his moves. That’s why they said he was cunning and ice-cold.

Just reading the report of his works in the past doesn’t gives me much sympathy for the man. Like these paragraphs:

During Bunyoni’s time as director of the national police and his two stints as minister of public security, members of the police committed serious human rights violations, including killings and torture of suspected government opponents. After the 2010 elections, for example, the police were involved in killing, arresting and ill-treating numerous members of the FNL and other government opponents, under Bunyoni’s watch” (…) “During Bunyoni’s second stint as minister of public security from August 2015 to June 2020, the police tortured opponents in barbaric ways: they poured burning liquid over their bodies, beat them with iron bars, pulled teeth out with pliers, and forced detainees to watch as others were executed with knives. These practices intensified when some protestors attacked policemen and members of the ruling party. Police also collaborated

with Imbonerakure who arrested, beat and detained demonstrators” (The Burundi Human Rights Initiative – ‘A STRANGLEHOLD ON BURUNDI’S FUTURE’ December 2020).

When he has done this in office and as a high ranking official. He allowed the most sinister acts to go on. The most horrific ways of punishing dissidents, activists and people who protested against the government. That was done on his watch and he let it all happen. It is hard to nearly impossible to defend a man like that.

Bunyoni has acted as a henchman for a tyrant. He served the government and the President while doing so. This was the way for the CNDD-FDD to silence their critics, enemies and whoever stood in their way. Not that it was justified or righteous, no, but it was their way of handling the crisis. While also ensuring Nkurunziza a third term in office.

Yes, even with that being said… he still deserves a fair trail and a justified case against him. As a former Minister and former Prime Minister. He should be held accountable for his actions. His now the guy who is feeling the pendulum swinging in his way. Bunyoni isn’t in anyone’s favour and has lost relevance.

That’s why his up for grabs and he can be punished. Because, Bunyoni knows to much and has to vast knowledge of the misdeeds of the government. Bunyoni knows how the CNDD-FDD operates and who has influence there. Now with the new President he has the powerhouse he needed to stay in good graces.

President Evariste Ndayishimiye is maybe trying to flex power and also show that his different from the previous administration. However, he appointed another despicable character in his stead. So, I don’t believe it and cannot see it happening. Since it’s the same party and with same arrogance as before. Therefore, the new President only tries to take-out the ones he fears aims for the throne.

A cold and cunning Bunyoni would be dangerous. A man who has no heart or emotions can easily find ways to outsmart the President. That’s why his the fall-guy and the one who has to pay the price. This is how I see it and with the previous report on how he acted in office. The former PM clearly deserves time in Court and face charges. Though the current ones might be bogus and a hit-job.

God knows really, because there are so many lies and deceptions. So much about power and influence. That these gentlemen could easily have ended the lives of plenty. Bunyoni could have continued his purge and crackdown on anyone who opposes the regime. It is what his known for and he would use any tool at his disposal.

Men men wouldn’t shed a tear if injustice was coming his way. Regardless, a man should be proven guilty and be charged accordingly to the law. There should be witness, evidence and proof of the conspiracy and the planned acts of criminality. However, he didn’t do that to several of others and this could just be karma. I believe anyone should answer to law and everyone should be deemed guilty or innocent before the Courts. Even if the plaintiff or the one charged have acted as the enforcer, judge and the hangman of others.

Bunyoni has made his bed and he now got to live in it. Peace.

Burundi: Mouvement pour la Solidarite et la Democratie (MSD) – Communique (05.05.2023)

Burundi: Banque de la Republique du Burundi – Communique au Public (28.04.2023)

Burundi: Mouvement pour la Solidarite et la Democratie (MSD) – Communique (24.04.2023)

Burundi: Cour Supreme – Cabinet du President – Communique de Presse (23.04.2023)

Burundi: Ministere de la Justice Parqueet General de la Republique – Communique de Presse (23.04.2023)

Burundi: Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres et de la Cooperation au Developpement – Objet: List des Fonctionnaires Internationaux d’origine burundaise (07.04.2023)

Opinion: Macron should atone for Mitterrand’s sins

Since 1994, sorry to say it in such crude terms, you have never been able to restore the military, security or administrative sovereignty of your country. It is a reality. We must not look for culprits outside, in this case” (…) “Don’t blame the France for something that depends on you” – President Emmanuel Macron (04.03.2023).

Sometimes, hubris and arrogance takes over. In essence, that’s maybe what happened in the Joint Press Conference with French President Emmanuel Macron and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi. The French thought he could humiliate and act naive about the past. However, the French has to take responsibility here… their choices and power in the Great Lakes has cost lives and insecurity. Not their actions alone, but they have amplified. That was all done in favour of one ruling elite and regime in the early 1990s in Kigali. This is why there is issues to this day.

In Kinshasa yesterday, Macron could have answered and offered relief for the mistakes of the past. Instead, he pins the blame on the rulers today and brushes of the involvement in the past. That is arrogant and forgetful. Like if “Operation Turquoise” wasn’t implemented and didn’t have any sort of outcome to begin with. While we all know the aftermath and what occurred after the French gave the ex-FAR and “interahamwe” a safe-haven in the DRC. Many of us know the continued bloodshed and insecurity that has persisted ever since. Therefore, the French should take blame, but we see the entitlement of Paris in these regards. Seriously, it is infuriating.

Just read snippets of assessments and writings on the matter!

That is why, in addition to the major concerns outlined above, we share with you a copy of a memo that we gave to members of the delegation of the Security Council of the United Nations who visited the DR Congo on May 19, 2009 – a memo which tells the tragedy suffered by the Congolese people. This memo can be summarized as follows:

Since 1994, the superbly armed Hutu, fleeing the advance of the Rwandan Patriotic Army crossed the Congolese border with support of UN operations called ‘turquoise’, headed by France. These Hutus settled in the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu in flagrant violation of all international standards governing the right of asylum or refuge. Known as the “Interahamwe” or FDLR, Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, and so on, these Hutu particularly stand out in DR Congo by practicing acts of looting, rape, massacre and so on. And since they became a pretext for the authorities in Kigali to justify the presence in DR Congo of their regular army, the results are the current massacres and atrocities suffered by our people at Makobola, Kasika Katogota, Lemera, Nindja, Kaniola , Kalambi, Bunyakiri, Kaziba, Luhwindja, Kalonge, Bukavu, Uvira, Kiliba, Katumba Kalehe, Bwegera, Kamituga, Mwenga, Shabunda, Lugushwa, Ngando, Ndola, Kigulube, Bijombo, Masango Tubimbi, Kakungwe, Mushago, Kitutu, Lubuga , Mutambala, Fizi, Minembwe, Bibokoboko, Baraka, Kagabwe, to name a few, as regards the South-Kivu. Moreover, Rwanda’s history is punctuated by cyclical and fratricidal wars driven by a spirit of intolerance and retaliation between Hutus and Tutsis. Hence, when it is the Rwandan Tutsi ethnic group that is in power, their countrymen who are in the majority, the Hutus, are in exile: and vice versa. DR Congo has become each time, the country of pilgrimage for them” (Rev. Aniedi Okure, OP – Letter From Congolese Elected Officials to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, 26.08.2009).

That the French government be careful not to use the excuses made to the Rwandan regime to join the club of looters of DRC resources; That the French government take a position on the genocide and serious crimes committed in the Congo by the Rwandans and their accomplices since “Operation Turquoise”; That the French government in turn come out clearly in favor of the creation of an International Criminal Tribunal for the DR Congo, responsible for prosecuting the perpetrators of the genocide and serious crimes committed in the Congo since “Operation Turquoise” in 1994; That the parliamentarians friends of the Congo, introduce these concerns of the Congolese people in their questions to the government and before the European institutions” (Hamuli RETY – ‘CRID MEMORANDUM ON THE CONSEQUENCES OF “OPERATION TURQUOISE” AND THE CONGOLESE GENOCIDE IN THE DRC’ 08.03.2010, CRID).

The escape of many of these Hutu extremists was enabled by the French safe zone, concealed by the flood of refugees. To fight these rebels, the new Rwandan government supported the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (AFDL), which also aimed at overthrowing the president. This caused a violent emergency in the DR Congo in October 1996. Therefore, the intervention did trigger instability in a neighboring country, however, the conflict did not occur within two years after the end of the intervention” (Rwanda 1994, Teresa Leiendecker, Karolina Schmid, 21.12.2018).

When you read these things and from very different sources. You understand the deep underlying sentiment. Alas, the French has responsibility for the insecurity in the DRC. It is partly their fault and it cannot hide from it decades later. The choices made by the leaders of Paris has haunted the DRC. It still does and the remains of these decisions are costing lives today. Therefore, Macron should be more humble and understanding.

However, he met an inept and unprepared President. The leaders of Kinshasa wasn’t prepared or ready for yesterday. They didn’t think it would play out like it this week, but it has. Macron trying to act like the “hot shot” and “big man” but not account for the past transgression of his nation. That’s something he should acknowledge, but if he does… he knows he will have to pay consequences right now, but also possibly at home. That’s why he doesn’t have the courage or the heart to do so. Peace.

Opinion: 11th Parliament is now the House of the Lord…

“We gathered earlier today to dedicate Parliament to the Lord, and I pledged to the country that a bill will be introduced as soon as possible to deal with homosexuality and lesbianism. We shall Jealously protect our cherished values and culture” (…) “Tomorrow, we are going to introduce the bill on homosexuality and I want to request the religious leaders that this time around, be there to see who is who” (…) “We are going to vote by show of hands. You’re either for homosexuality or against it. we want to see the kind of leaders we have in this country” – Speaker Anita Among (28.02.2023).

I don’t know if the Member of Parliament and now Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has read the 1995 Constitution. Neither does it matter, because it is a forgotten text. The one that was the “fundamental change” and game changer when launched. It gave life to the National Resistance Movement and legitimacy. However, with time it has withered and obviously lost value.

Still because of her words… I just have to add two parts of the 1995 Constitution. Just to remind ourselves of the goals, the aims and what is the supposed law of the land. It is fine that the Speaker is a woman of faith and wants to live her life to honour a deity. That is fine and dandy as an individual, but as a legislator and such. She is out of bound with the ideals of the State, the government and her own role as Speaker.

“Article 7 Non-adoption of State religion Uganda shall not adopt a State religion” (1995 Constitution – Chapter 2)

“Article 21 Equality and freedom from discrimination (1) All persons are equal before and under the law in all spheres of political, economic, social and cultural life and in every other respect and shall enjoy equal protection of the law. (2) Without prejudice to clause (1) of this article, a person shall not be discriminated against on the ground of sex, race, colour, ethnic origin, tribe, birth, creed or religion, or social or economic standing, political opinion or disability. (3) For the purposes of this article, “discriminate” means to give different treatment to different persons attributable only or mainly to their respective descriptions by sex, race, colour, ethnic origin, tribe, birth, creed or religion, or social or economic standing, political opinion or disability” (1995 Constitution – Chapter 4).

Speaker Among can be Christian all she wants and that’s all good. Nevertheless, the 11th Parliament and the Members of the Parliament doesn’t have to be connected to any faith or such. So, to say that she gives the House to God is out of the sphere and function of the Parliament.

I wonder if the fellow legislators have seen these articles or even considered them. The activist lawyers’ better tool up. Because this should be food for the Courts and be tested by law-abiding citizens. This law should be tested, especially when the Article 7 and Article 21 specify certain rights. These rights has to be respected, even if are against or see it as sinful to live with the same sex. In your faith and what you deem as right is maybe morally incorrect in your view, but as society and by law it shouldn’t be criminalized. Especially, when the 1995 Constitution specifically says a individual should be discriminated against “on the ground of sex, race, colour, ethnic origin, tribe, birth, creed or religion, or social or economic standing, political opinion or disability”. Those words are giving the homosexuals rights to live as they deem fit and they shouldn’t be discriminated against. I am maybe against it by faith myself, but by law they should be allowed to live the way they please. Just like I am allowed and have the rights to live after my religion. That’s why the laws shouldn’t target a minority and one group, which the anti-homosexual bill is doing. They are target today and tomorrow it could be another group of faith. Therefore, it is a slippery slope and when you start… they must demonize more people and make them illegal. That’s just how these things are played out historically.

If the Speaker wants to be Christian that is fine, and I applaud her. However, in this case… it’s the wrong context, the wrong forum and the plenary sessions isn’t made for that. That’s for church or the holy communion. The 11th Parliament is created for legislative agendas and not a prayer house. Secondly, the law itself is a violation of the Constitution, which is what the Parliament is supposed to protect. So, the Speaker and her merry men are violating their own purpose and function by doing so. That’s the interesting part here… and that’s why this got to be tested in the Courts. Peace.

Burundi: Mouvement pour la Solidarite et la Democratie (MSD) – Communique (05.02.2023)