In the beginning of June, WPP intern Thalia Malmberg spoke with WPP Member Christian Ngendahimana about the conflict and emerging violence in Burundi. Being active within Burundian civil society, he shared his thoughts on the current challenges the country is facing. With Burundi at crossroads, nonviolent mobilizing is key to achieve progressive change for Burundians. Despite threats and retaliation, local civil society is already leading nonviolent initiatives in achieving democracy and peace.
This new resurgence of conflict in Burundi started about two years ago, when the current President Nkurunziza expressed his intention to run for a third term. Civil society started ringing alarm bells and a fierce political discussion erupted among political actors. The conflict escalated when, on April 25 this year, the ruling party declared the president would be running for a third term. In response, civil society went protesting in the streets. The security forces responded with heavy violence, with police indiscriminately shooting at crowds of people. Since then, dozens of peaceful protesters have been killed and more than 300 have been injured. Over 100.000 Burundians have fled the country, many to neighboring countries.
Civil society actors and opposition parties are denouncing the third term of the current president because it is illegal to run for a third term as president. As included in our National Constitution and in the Arusha Peace Accords, which ended the Burundian Civil War that started in October 1993, a president can only serve for two terms. The ruling political party remains convinced the third term is legal, a conviction that was validated on May 5, with the constitutional court permitting the candidacy of the president. According to observers and civil society, the third term was only validated by the court due to corruption and threats. Despite the validation by the constitutional court, people in Burundi know the third term is against the law.
Up till now, the peace talks to resolve this conflict have not produced much result. I think this is because the international community has not yet been able to convince the president to give up his aspirations for a third term. His bid for reelection is a big threat, given that if he runs, he will undoubtedly win. He has a strong hold on the rural populations and is manipulating the voting system, effectively guaranteeing his victory. Other political parties do not have the right or freedom to gather a support base, nor do they have permission to campaign. Private media is not functioning anymore; all private media was destroyed after a failed coup attempt on May 13 this year. At the moment, the only way of getting information in the country is through rumors.
Since April 26, civil society has organized nonviolent actions, among others through the anti-third term campaign called “Citizens to Street Demonstration”. During these street demonstrations, security forces have used violence against peaceful protesters. So far more than 40 people have been killed during these demonstrations. Despite the heavy threat of violence by the security forces, the movement is still active.
Women and their allies are actively participating in the street movement; they are organizing what they call “peaceful marches”. I have attended at least three marches that have been organized by these women. Some of their slogans are “We need peace”, “We want you to respect the law”, and “We, mothers and girls, are calling for peaceful ways to resolve this conflict”. Women are also actively engaged in peace talks on the regional and international levels. They have a strong voice because we have been strategizing together, even before the talks. We wrote petitions and open letters that were given to national and international decisions making stakeholders, the facilitators and delegations to the peace talks.
Right now there is no space for activists in Burundi. Due to the conflict, many human rights defenders, civil society representatives, media actors, as well as political leaders from the opposing parties are in fear of their physical security. Most of us are currently residing outside Burundi, so that we can organize ourselves: we need to meet and strategize for peace, rather than be implementing isolated strategies. Inside Burundi it has become very difficult to meet and organize, because many of us are already facing arrest warrants accusing us of insurrection, for speaking out against the President’s intention for an illegal third term.
For many, returning to Burundi is impossible, as they risk their own personal safety and well being, being marked as targets for attacks. If the situation does not change, we cannot go back and the situation will become even worse. Right now we are like refugees, many are living in problematic conditions.
On the May 31, 2015, there was a summit for heads of state for the East African Community in Dar Es’ Salaam. The recommendations that were adopted with regards to the situation in Burundi include international observation of the elections and a provision that all militia affiliated with political parties must disarm.
Currently, the legislatives and local elections have taken place on June 29 and the Presidential will take place on July 15, 2015. An UN report has already judged the local elections as not free or credible. Civil society and observers are demanding the postponing of the elections in order for them to meet international standards. If they take place as currently scheduled, then the elections will not be able to meet the international standards. Opposition parties cannot reach their members, they cannot campaign, and, due to the presence of government-backed militias, they do not have access to the countryside.
This is the critical moment where change must come. For those who are against the third term, Burundi is at a crucial crossroads. If the president were to run for the third term, this will be assimilated to a Constitutional Coup and the Arusha Peace Agreement will lose its substance. The registered progress on peace and sociopolitical areas in Burundi will disappear. All those who are protesting the third term fear for their safety and reprisals from militias. Politicians and those who were involved in the military coup, currently in exile, may create a rebellion.
On the other hand, we also fear that if there were to be another coup attempt, those who are against the third term will be once more associated with those responsible for the coup. These fears are exacerbated by the lack of access to information, and the threat of violence we face.
Looking forward to a strategy for peace, one of the strategies is to postpone elections for a reasonable period. Postponed elections will give the international community time to assist the Burundians in disarming the political militias that have been created. It will also generate time for Burundians to restore the freedom of expression in the country. One of the aspects in restoring the freedom of expression should include the reestablishment of unbiased media. Another aspect should be the release of people who have been arrested during the protests. These people have been tortured and they are currently in very bad conditions. In addition, we also urge the Burundian government and security forces to use proportional action instead of disproportionate force, considering the peaceful nature of the manifestations on the street.
Finally, the international community must rally behind Burundians and urge the President Nkurunziza to give up his bid for a third term. It is against the democratic principles that Burundi was built on. Burundians, whether in or outside the country are holding on to hope and are nonviolently struggling for their democracy.
Christian Ngendahimana began his professional career as a Youth Coordinator for Search for Common Ground and was later promoted as the National Youth Program Coordinator for the whole of Burundi. In 2006, together with Mrs Nyanzobe, he established Fountaine-ISOKO for Good Governance and Integrated Development to promote gender justice in Burundi. As the Executive Director of Fountaine-ISOKO, he is currently involved in many national and international projects relating to gender equality advocacy and capacity building. In addition, he is the chair of the Burundi MenEngage Network (B-Men), of which Fountaine-ISOKO hosts the national secretariat. Christian participated in the 2009-2010 WPP Pilot Training of Trainers "Together for Transformation. Violence, Masculinities and Peacebuilding".
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