Burundi: Ndayishimiye as a Presidential Candidate is a bad-sign ahead

said this to the UN Agents, looking them straight in the eye: you wanted to deploy MAPROBU to come and kill us. This force will not beat us, if they come I know we will defeat them in three hours … We must know that it is time to drive out all the demons that have infiltrated Burundi. God is with us, we will fight all demons. They will be exterminated and Burundi will develop”Evariste Ndayishimiye (SOS Burundi – ‘Quarterly report on the situation of human rights in Burundi July 1 to September 30, 2017’ October 2017).

Evariste Ndayishimiye is now the apparent heir of the CNDD-FDD and the next up-coming President in Burundi. After three terms of Pierre Nkurunziza. A man whose legacy and time will be deemed with the blood on his hands. Now, the CNDD-FDD is handpicking a man whose mission has been to do the duty of Nkurunziza.

General Ndayishimiye has been in CNDD-FDD since 1995. He came from the Parti pour la Libération du Peuple Hutu-Forces Nationales de Libération (Palipehutu-FNL). A party that has later changed name and is now the only the FNL. A party that he has later done what he could to eliminate together with other strong men in the appointed cabinet of Nkurunziza.

Gen. Ndayishimiye, the Secretary General of CNDD-FDD and former Minister of Interior, whose been in-charge of the Operation “Safisha”, which is Kiswahili for “to clean”. The mission was also to directly assassination of the FNL President. Also, getting rid of the opposition, which were former Ex-Fab and FNL activists.

So, giving him the role now. Will show how not only the militarised CNDD-FDD continues to spread its message with force. But, how they intend to continue their purge. As his known as a hard-liner. A man whose has no issue to use militarised methods to get his way.

The man the CNDD-FDD Secretary General written this: “As for the Burundians, thirsty for power, who let themselves be led by the neo-colonialists who seek to destroy the independence and dignity of the Burundian people in order to achieve their ends, the CNDD-FDD Party recommends that they recapture themselves and join the bandwagon towards the 2020 elections” (Ndayishimiye – ‘Statement of the CNDD-FDD party on the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the assassination of Ndadaye Melchior’ 20.10.2018).

We know his well known for this as his been nicknamed the “terminator”. For his will of using the police, the army and Imbonerakure to get rid of FNL and Ex-Fab in Burundi. The General knows this and has tried to downplay it. Even as there is weekly people getting abducted, killed and suddenly gone missing.

Gen. Ndayishimiye who has been a loyal general to the President said this before the polls on the latest referendum in 2018: “Anyone who votes No will be a traitor, bought and paid for by white colonizers, They’re enemies of the country. They’re even devils, because voting No will bring a curse” (Ndayishimiye, 2018).

If he feels that way about people voting now to a legislation giving Nkurunziza the possibility of a fourth term. What would he say, if it matters to his own self? Wouldn’t he call them traitors and scum, if they don’t vote for him?

When its that easy to call people enemies. Make secret coded operations to get rid of enemies. That sort of man is dangerous. His dangerously enough in the high ranking position his in now and with his place in the Council among the President. However, now he’ll get even more power.

Don’t expect anyone to dare to insult the CNDD-FDD. Who has used force to say in power. Who has silenced critics and by any means staying in power. His a loyalist to Nkurunziza. So, expect him to hold him in high regard and still play after his time in office.

However, it isn’t a paradigm shift to pick Gen. Ndayishimiye, it is more of the same and possibly amping up the violence even more. Maybe even striking harder down on dissidents and not letting them go. As he will target the enemies of the state and the CNDD-FDD. With all means at his disposal. Don’t expect silencing of the guns, but more of them.

The military wing of CNDD-FDD has gotten their man. This will be bloody. The ones calling him moderate is out of line. The man who was in-charge of cleaning up and assassinations. His not moderate, but a killer in a suit.

Future His Excellency, but don’t expect the CNDD-FDD to change their ways of operations. Just more bloodshed and more constrained political space in the mercy of a Evariste. This here is not good news, but a future with more hostile behaviour from the state. Peace.

Burundi: OLUCOME – Communique de Presse No. 003 – Portant Sur la Priere Interconfesionnelle d’Action de Grace Organisee par le Parti CNDD-FDD dans la Capitale Politique de Gitega a la Veille de la Proclamation du Candidat aux Presidentielles de mai Prochain (25.01.2020)

Burundi: OLUCOME – Communique de Presse No. 02 – Portant sur le Detournement Probable des Fonds des Enseignants Retenus a la Source par l’Influence de la Coalition COSESONA (22.01.2020)

Opinion: My flawed thoughts on the possible retirement President Nkurunziza

There is some new strange movements in concern of the “imboneza yamaho” or the Eternal Leader. Who was crowned that in March 2018. Now in January 2020 the Parliament have a draft legislation, where President Pierre Nkurunziza will be crowned the Paramount leader, Champion of Patriotism and Leadership Core.

Other than that, the President is supposed to get a retirement package of 1 Billion Burundian Francs or $550k United States Dollars. Also, the same benefits as the Vice-President for Life. That is a huge salary, also provide him housing as well. Therefore, he will never live in poverty like most of his citizens. But instead living a lavish lifestyle, which he surely got accustomed to in the three terms as President.

Now, the Eternal Leader, the Paramount Leader and the Champion of Patriotism and Leadership Core is supposed to step-down. That is the mightiest man in the Republic. Now suddenly he will back-down and be a silent soul. Surely, a man like that will return, if not control it from the back-room.

A man that has used force to get into power, a man that has gotten rid of his enemies. Rewritten the Constitution to fit him. Its hard to see him stepping down. If he does so, there will be some sort of function, where he will work and use his influence. Because, he might do like Kabila, run the Ruling Party and seal the deals from afar. While a President is his puppet. That wouldn’t be shocking in CNDD-FDD. As Nkurunziza has used all tools to get power and stay.

So, with this in mind. I wonder how long the retirement would be or if he would accept it. This seems like a play for the facade and let it go. Unless, he plans to do a Putin, be gone for one term and re-return after. Putin became Prime Minister, but Nkurunziza could pull of the same. Especially, since his leadership has praised like God like by the ones close in association to him.

Even if President Nkurunziza doesn’t go to the elections this year. Expect him to suddenly appear. That wouldn’t be shocking. It would be expected, because people like him doesn’t just go away. Since he has fatally gotten rid of so many people.

The blood is on his hands and that is his legacy. Not the titles or the time in office. The stains will be with him forever. Peace.

Burundi: UBJ – Communique de l’UBJ l’arrestation du journaliste Blaise Pascal Karaumiye (17.01.2020)

Burundi: Mouvement pour la Solidarite et la Democratie (MSD) – Declaration (16.01.2020)

Burundi: Communique de Presse Des Syndicates (CONAPES, STEB, SYNATEF, SLEB, SYNAPEP, SIPESBU Et SYNATEM) Regroupes au sein de la Coalition COSSESONA (05.01.2020)

 

Burundi: CENI – Communique (03.01.2020)

Opinion: Commit to the bid, if your stepping down…

An old map from Reliefweb

I have a hard time to celebrate that certain men plans to step down from their Presidency. I know, I should be, but I don’t want to be fooled. During the last end of the decade and year of 2019. The Presidents of Rwanda and Burundi pledged to step down. Said it on various occasions. However, I am not yet buying it.

That the President of Burundi. The man who was a rebel, who has made himself a supreme ruler and been at the helm since 2005. Plus the President haven’t followed the Arusha Accords, he have amended the Constitution to fit his own agenda and he has already held a questionable term, which was validated by his own appointed Constitutional Court. Awaiting a new term this year, as the up-coming elections of 2020 is coming up.

With all that in mind, I have a hard time believing Pierre Nkurunziza of CNDD-FDD and the violent government of his. Will suddenly stop acting, stop ceasing operations and be in the wind. I don’t believe he will be relaxing at a mansion or palace in Gitega. No, it’s not happening, unless he drops an resignation letter, a letter of intent and some sort of decree, proving that the President will not be there after the 2020 elections.

It is not like Nkurunziza understands or has the ability to listen to scrutiny. The ones who stands in his way stops. The ones who pokes fun on painting crayons on his pictures get arrested. Therefore, his not the sort of guy to get tainted or get kind hearted. So, he will struggle as a civilian, who would be questioned for the abductions, killings and the reason why so many opposition members are in exile.

The second one, who I doubt will step down from the throne is Rwandan President Paul Kagame. His been in power forever. First in Ugandan government, before he together with other Rwandan diaspora militia did a coup d’etat and part-take in genocide of 1994. Since then he was the Vice-President and Minister of Defence between 1994-2000. Since 2000 his been the President and by law he can be so until 2034. Therefore, I have little faith of him stepping down.

Well, someone whose elected with 98% in the election of 2017 would most likely not step down. Not someone who has all power consolidated. A man who has the army and the security operations working as clock-work around his orders. Not believing someone who support militias in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Because, of his vicious affairs, I doubt he will jeopardize his place.

This is the sort of man that has ban political satire, because of frail sense of power. So, its not like Kagame has thick skin and can manage critics. That is why his real opposition is either behind bars or in exile.

These sort of gentlemen … isn’t the sort who listen or accept to be humiliated, laughed at or even spoken ill off. They would not like to have tainted legacy, even though that is true. Because, they want to be giants, big-men and remembered like deities. They want to be modern saints, canonized in the Vatican and be living legends.

However, even if they do step-down from being Heads of State. Their legacy will be the bloodshed, the impunity within their republics and their oppressive behaviour. It will not be fantastic speeches, bended knees and other policies.

So now, if they are stepping down. Prove it, show some real backing behind it. Letter of intent. Resignation letter or even groom a successor. Do something, your words have no value, when you have amended the laws to give you ability to stay longer in power. Peace.

Burundi: Ministere des Finances, du Budget et de la Cooperation au Developpement – Objet: Mise en demeure (20.12.2019)