Burundi: CNDD-FDD ready to roar like a lion ahead of the elections!

“You young people, do not worry, there must not be any reports that you have abused CNL activists. You are leaders in this country. You are the masters of this forest, you are lions, valiant. Know that a lion does not eat a cat, a rat” – Sylvestre Ndayizeye

It is now reported, that Sylvestre Ndayizeye who lately stated these words in a speech at a function in late September 2019. This in preparation of the General Election of 2020. The continuation of the Presidency and the ruling regime. Where the roaring lion of the CNDD-FDD will not stop intimidating, using force or even silencing the opposition. Because, nothing is as friendly, as name-calling your enemies as rats or cats. That is really showing the arrogance and the usage of words from the people ruling the Republic.

This is not a one-time thing. Certainly not the last either from a regime that has silenced and killed the opposition. However, since the General Elections are coming up and the regime wants a softer touch in the up-coming events. Because, it needs more positive press and less violence. This means the Imbonerakure or the CNDD-FDD Youth-Wing needs to take it easy. Instead of their previous and current actions of direct violence against the ones opposing the ruling regime.

“We must not let you walk on your feet. It is necessary to avoid any eventuality, to show muscle, if necessary, to roar like the lion, to frighten them. You have to keep them safe so that they can live. Because if you do not do it, it will be difficult for you to convince them to join our party” – Sylvestre Ndayizeye

As we see, the CNDD-FDD really wants to show another side in the up-coming election. They don’t want the news and headlines, which it had in and around the General Election of 2015. The CNDD-FDD and such wants to look golden. But as long as they can intimidate the opposition, roar like lions, but also get them all to join them. Because, if they don’t join them, you got to flex, roar and scare them.

The CNDD-FDD surely shows their character with sort of statements. We have already seen their actions and how it has persisted since 2015. The opposition have vanished or gotten killed. Very few are here. If not they have fled to exile. That is why, the up-coming election is more an charade and rubber-stamping the leadership of the current day.

So, that they can continue with their ways. For now they want some friendly headlines ahead of the elections to look good. Peace.

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Burundi: World Bank to finance the [Insignificant] NKURIZA

On Friday 20^th September 2019, the World Bank forwarded an advance to start the Nkuriza or the Advance Agreement for Preparation of Proposed Investing in Early Years and Fertility Project Project Preparation Advance No. V2270-BI. The letter of the advance was sent to Minister of Finance, Budget and Development Planning Domitien Ndihokubwayo.

Clearly, the World Bank has been planning this project with the authorities for over a long time. Where they want to help the people of Burundi and the get the fertility rate down. Also, secure the food and nutrition in the 6 provinces of the Republic. What is also striking, the minimal advance of $350,000 USD is going to see the progress of the project and the International Development Association (IDA) going to later give a grant of $30m USD.

The World Bank knows how this regime is going about. So the WB is dropping funds and granting funds to them, as they are going into elections and having a project, which isn’t that viable. The idea and the possible plans of is ideal, but the own documentation proves that they don’t believe it themselves.

Expectation from the World Bank:

“This overall project is classified as a category “B” given that activities are not expected to produce any large-scale, significant, and/or irreversible impacts” (World Bank, 30.08.2019).

Where and what:

“The main project beneficiaries will consist of children under-two and women of reproductive age in 6 provinces (Bubanza, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Kirundo, Makamba and Muyinga) to reach them in the critical 1,000day window of opportunity, as most cognitive and physical development occur between conception and two years of age. Interventions related to FP will focus on both women of reproductive age and men. Other beneficiaries will include adolescent girls to reach women early and to improve their health and nutrition status prior to entering their reproductive health years. The poorest households will benefit from improvements in access to water, hygiene, sanitation and small-scale agriculture interventions” (World Bank, 30.08.2019).

What it will do:

“(a) Carry out a program of technical assistance to: (i) develop Project related safeguards

instruments; (ii) study the determinants of chronic malnutrition and high fertility in project areas; (iii) develop a food composition database; (iv) undertake institutional and capacity building needs

assessments; and (v) prepare a Project implementation manual.

(b) Workshops between religious leaders and the Ministry of Health and Fight against HIV/AIDS” (World Bank, 20.09.2019).

So, its not that expect anything out of it. The project itself is positive and the needs for it surely there. However, I get automatically sceptical, when the organization donating to it, doesn’t think it will give any results. That is why you can wonder, why does the IDA grant possibly these funds and why will the WB give an advance in the first place?

Shouldn’t the same organization give funds to other projects, which is classified in another bracket, where they actually think it will have effect and get results. I understand, also that this sort of projects is hard to establish the possible results or the change in society. However, if they believe in this sort of activity. I would be as sceptical anywhere, because this seems like they are testing out something random and hoping they are able to make a difference.

In addition, they will be lucky if that happens. Since, they are not anticipating this to be the remedy. So, in one way it giving money down a wishing well, hoping someone see their prayer. Peace.

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Burundi: the UN Commission of Inquiry raises red flags at the serious human rights violations committed in the pre-electoral climate (04.09.2019)

GENEVA (4 September 2019) – Less than a year ahead of Burundi’s presidential, parliamentary and local elections in 2020, the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Burundi (COIB) concludes in its report released today the existence of a climate of fear and intimidation of all persons who do not show their support to the ruling party, CNDD-FDD. As members of its youth league, the “Imbonerakure”, agents of the National Intelligence Service and of the police, and local authorities continue to commit serious human rights violations against Burundi citizens, the crisis sparked in 2015 has – far from being resolved – evolved to the point of affecting all corners of the country.

The report describes how Imbonerakure have carried out killings, disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detentions, acts of torture and ill-treatment and rape against actual or alleged political opposition members. The Commission finds that this alarming violence is fueled by the widespread impunity that prevails in Burundi.

“It is extremely dangerous to speak out critically in Burundi today,”explains the COIB Chair, Mr. Doudou Diène. “The stifling of such voices is what allows the country to present an illusion of calm,” adds COIB Commissioner Lucy Asuagbor, but “it is a ‘calm’ based on terror”, says fellow COIB Commissioner Francoise Hampson, “as shown by the continued commission of crimes against humanity and the very serious human rights violations that we have documented”.

In the report, the Commission details how local authorities and Imbonerakure are intimidating the local population to force them to join, support and contribute to the ruling party. Women and girls are gang raped by Imbonerakure during attacks of their homes or while trying to flee the country. Men – but also women – are subjected to sexual torture during detention by the intelligence service. This occurs with almost no scrutiny, given the severe restrictions on independent media and civil society, a dysfunctional justice system, and the recent closure of the country office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The Commission is currently the only independent international mechanism investigating human rights violations and abuses committed in Burundi.

Given the politically sensitive electoral period ahead, the COIB decided to be forward looking as well. Applying the “Framework of analysis for atrocity crimes”, developed in 2014 by the UN Office for the Prevention of Genocide and the Responsibility to Protect, the Commission found that the eight common risk factors for criminal atrocities are present in Burundi. “There is no better early warning than this,” says the Chair. “Our analysis should be carefully considered, if the often repeated commitments to prevention are to have any meaning.”

The Commissioners call upon the Government of Burundi to put an end to human rights violations committed by agents of the State and Imbonerakure. They highlight the urgent need to implement measures to prevent the deterioration of the human rights situation in the context of the 2020 elections. The Commission emphasizes that the situation in Burundi must be followed with utmost vigilance by the international community.

The findings of the Commission are based on more than 1, 200 statements of victims witnesses and alleged perpetrators of human rights violations, and other sources collected over the course of three years of investigation. This year, the Government of Burundi has once again refused any cooperation with the Commission, despite its repeated requests and initiatives. The Commission will submit its report to the Human Rights Council during an inter-active dialogue, which will take place on 17th of September 2019, in Geneva.

Bi-rolls are available at:

https://vimeo.com/unhumanrights/review/357318193/66c066de19 (English).
https://vimeo.com/unhumanrights/review/357318793/9e0f6e5aab (French)

Background

The Commission of Inquiry on Burundi was created on 30 September 2016 through United Nations Human Rights Council resolution 33/24. Its mandate is to conduct a thorough investigation into human rights violations and abuses committed in Burundi since April 2015, to identify alleged perpetrators and to formulate recommendations. The Commission is composed of three members: Doudou Diène (Senegal), Lucy Asuagbor (Cameroon) and Françoise Hampson (United Kingdom)

For more information and media requests, please contact: Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Sandra Miller (COIB) (+ 41 22 917 3426 / smiller@ohchr.org