Burundian Crisis: True Causes and Adequate Solutions
By: Seth NDUWAYO
By: Seth NDUWAYO
From the period of Independence up today, our country kept
passing through difficult and violence-characterized periods. Those periods
were featured by ethnic conflicts on the one hand and civil wars on the other.
From one period to another, the violence-involved groups or violence-benefiting
leaders always had explanations or excuses. Today, therefore, we experience bad
situations and those individuals still come to instill into us their truths,
but they still don’t point their fingers at the true causes. To notice this,
one has to glance at our past and realize that we are experiencing, today, the
same problems and, the people at the top of fighting groups are the same. It is
easily noticeable that if nothing is done in order to find adequate solutions
to the true causes of the Burundian crisis, other wars will still break out.
So, what are the true causes of crisis in Burundi? Can they be solved? Or,
where can the solutions come from?
As we hear the words ‘’peace talks” or “dialogue” we may
think that our problems are going to end soon. That is the hope we had about
Arusha negotiations. But, if Arusha hosted peace talks and Kampala hosted other
talks which have been transferred to Arusha again, can we say that we must
always have endless talks? Till when? Why don’t those talks bear fruits? Are
they genuine ones? A bit about Kampala and Arusha talks, do the hosts and
participants base the talks on the true causes or problems Burundians have? If
not, how can we expect adequate solutions? Do those participants of Kampala and
Arusha talks really represent aspirations of the majority of Burundians? Aren’t
they small groups who make themselves represent Burundians because of jobs they
used to have in governments, army or associations?
Back to the background of Kampala and Arusha talks, all came
with elections! Before elections, there had been other troubles. But, as
elections came by the tension went up with them. About the enrolment of voters,
there had been disagreement until some political leaders proposed to redo the
operation in a more transparent way. It was in November 2014. Another
unforgettable date was April 26th, 2015 where CNDD-FDD political
party announced Pierre NKURUNZIZA as their candidate. The following day, a big
amount of Bujumbura residents started demonstrations against the third term.
Those demonstrations (for some) or riot (for others) speeded up and took
various images. Those events bore noticeable consequences such as the failed
coup, selective killings, unknown groups of bars attackers, groups who attacked
police stations and military bases, and weapons discoveries around
demonstrators’ dominant quarters.
Without detailing everything or accuse one or the other, the
truth is that Burundians should not resolve for violence because of the third
term. Did people have to die, be jailed or flee the country because of the
term? The third term is revealed as an excuse which was made by some people;
without which violence could still break out. The true problem really was to
access the power. For the ruling party, NKURUNZIZA was the personality who
would bring easily victory to his party CNDD-FDD so as for it to stay in power.
On the other hand, NKURUNZIZA was an obstacle to the opposition parties. And so
they would rather compete with another candidate who was not as famous as
NKURUNZIZA. Briefly, NKURUNZIZA was the best card to be played by CNDD-FDD
party and the worst one to be faced with by the opposition parties. So, in the
case of contention, between politicians what would be the solution?
The solution for the question above is difficult. This is
because in politics, politicians show one face while hiding another. From 2014,
signs about an eventual crisis could already be noticed. There was a singer,
for example, who sang’ 2015 ntushike’ which means ‘may 2015 not come’. In fact,
news and political speeches foretold that there would break out a difficult
period such as the one we passed through in 2015. In fact, there was no
political party or side of political parties which would accept its failure in
the elections. So, even without the candidacy of NKURUNZIZA, if the Election
Commission announced CNDD-FDD political party won elections, ADC-Ikibiri,
RANAC, and others who have a different position from that of the ruling party
would say that elections were unfair. And demonstrations could still take
place! On the other hand if the electoral commission announced that CNDD-FDD
had lost the elections, there could always be demonstrations by the ruling
party members. What is, then, the solution in the case of endless discussions
by politicians?
Even now the answer is still difficult and arguable but there
is one we can agree or disagree on. In fact, if the contention is based on mere
disagreement about the interpretation of the law, without any hidden agenda,
the solution comes from competent institutions. In the case of 2015 elections,
then, they are the Constitutional Court and the Electoral Commission. In
democratic republics the role of institutions is irreplaceable. And if you
can’t obey the institutions, you can’t obey citizens who settled them either.
Then, what if the institutions are unfair? Normally if one is not satisfied by
the decision of a court, he moves up to the appeal court if it was set before. Otherwise
the decision is irrevocable. What if, on the other hand one falsely suspects an
institution of being unfair, because of their hidden agenda? This question,
then, comes to throw light on previous ones. Truly speaking, the real problems
are difficult to know or be addressed. This is because all that is hidden
behind their actions and speeches is what they personally intend to get when
they are in power. Because of interests, then, they whiten what is black or
blacken what is white (at all sides). Those lies from politicians bear bad
consequences.
The first bad consequence of those lies from politicians is
insecurity or war. Nobody ignores talks which were organized by BINUB in the
perspective of organizing well the 2015 elections. The central term around
which the talks rotated was “good political environment”. In fact, searching
for a good political environment confirmed that there is was a bad one.
However, the bad political environment is created by politicians themselves. Therefore,
they know sensitive ideologies groups would not allow any body contradict and
focus on them. For example, today, the ruling party accuses some people and the
international community of disliking Hutus. On the other hand, opponents to
NKURUNZIZA’s regime accuse his government of planning genocide...The ignorant
majority, then, supports or fights for an unknown cause. Thus, the suspicion
between groups evolves in insecurity and war through being ahead of the “enemy”
or revenge. That is why, among people who died in these violent events, if
someone from one group died one day, someone from the other group had to die
the following day.
Other consequences which follow are increasing suspicion,
disobedience toward law, increasing crimes, fleeing the country, jobs which
stop, increasing poverty, human right violation…In fact, in the period of bad
political environment suspicion increases. Politicians persuade their members
that the opposite side is as dangerous as the devil. Disobedience toward the
law is observed in such periods. People acquire unusual behaviors and it
becomes difficult to see who is in charge with what. For example, if we were to
ask OLUCOME the amount of money was embezzled from April 26th, 2015
up to now, the answer would not be accurate. In such periods, then, there are
people who assign themselves the role of the Police and Justice in creating
their self-defense system and decide what to do with people they think are
guilty…Crimes increase and so there are who die, flee the country, jobs which
stop or are not well done, increasing poverty (due to impossibility of going to
work because of insecurity), and human rights violation in general. So, should
the majority suffer because of the interests of politicians? Do nationals
support those evil speculations out of ignorance? Isn’t there any other
invisible hand which manipulates politicians?
There has never been, there is not and there will never be
good reason for causing such trouble to our fellow countrymen. Supporting or
fighting against the term are not good reasons for crimes and disorder which
were brought by people who supported or fought against the term. Whatever they
do, security has to be preserved. Would they take pride in ruling an empty
country? If the country gets empty even leaders are gone! A country is, thus,
an irreplaceable shelter for all and so it deserves honor and respect. Those
people who take the respect off our country do it willingly. For some their
motto is ”let’s share or we break everything”, for others they act out of
promises. Those politicians, who bear the manipulation from international
organizations and powers, take themselves back into slavery and they take back
their fellow countrymen in domination. Most unfortunate, there are actors who
are invisible, who share responsibilities in our sufferings. Truly speaking,
NKURUNZIZA would not have run for the third term if he had not got invisible
supporters. On the other hand, opponents to the third term of NKURUNZIZA would
not have been that severe and strong if they had not got invisible supporters,
in terms of money and weapons. Invisible supporters play a preponderant role in
what takes place in our country. However, those commissions and resources still
are not good reasons for endless violence.
Ladies and gentlemen, dear partners of Burundi, our elders
said it in the following proverb:”Igiti ntikigukora mujisho kabiri kiba kigomba
kuriziba”. This means that a tree cannot poke into your eye twice unless it
wants to blind it. Fortunately, it poked into ours more than two times and
still we can see. If our eyes are not blinded yet it is the grace of God. We
have to change and accept to learn from the past; we shall build a good present
and an exciting future. May politicians understand that we are discovering
their lies which will no longer have effect on us soon! May political parties’
members, who help politicians to spread their lies, understand that Burundians
are fed up with all the actions which stop global interests! May foreign
countries and international associations who have a hand in our crisis
understand that Burundians are noticing their bad actions and strategies! In
the coming days, if Africans see light who are you going to keep in darkness?
May we the majority of Burundians understand that democracy is ours! Let us
participate fully in setting objectives and in the organization of the national
life, and do everything in a secure way and the respect of the law. May we be
able to understand who politicians really are and defy them when they want to
divide us! What they say and show us are not the true problems of Burundi.
Rather, the real problems of Burundi, which cause all the troubles we
experience, are divided into two groups.
In fact, the first group is made up of problems related with
the ambiguous past. There are atrocities which were committed longer ago which
were not punished or forgiven. The difficult periods we passed through in our
country are still cloudy and we do not know yet what really happened, who
really did it, and the punishment they should have been given or they were
given. From the Independence, even a little before, the assassination of
RWAGASORE was seen as bad luck which fell on our country. RWAGASORE’s friends
failed to keep the perspective he had set. By the way, who killed RWAGASORE?
Why did he kill him? These questions are crucial for the understanding of our
history. This is because those who killed RWAGASORE and their accomplices are
responsible for the historical turmoil. Indeed, RWAGASORE was the front-line
leader for Independence and Democracy. Losing RWAGASORE a bit before the
Independence shows that he Prince had not instilled yet his ideology in his
fellow countrymen. So, if RWAGASORE was not killed he would be our model in the
matters of politics and administration.
From the assassination of RWAGASORE up to 1993, things went
from bad to worse. Another Prince of the name of NDIZEYE was murdered in 1965.
Other atrocities were done in 1972, 1988, and 1993. Surprisingly, until today
those who are responsible for those crimes are not known yet. Even the true
details of what happened are not known either. Thus, there have been people
from Hutu ethnic group who started to organize themselves in order to fight
against the injustice toward their ethnic group. That is why FNL/PALIPEHUTU was
created in 80’s and CNDD in 90’s. Even though the Arusha Agreement had planned
to set the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, it was not appointed on time
until 2014. Until today, therefore, every individual narrates the past in their
own interests or in the interests of the ethnic group they belong to.
The second group is made up of problems related with bad
governance, institutions which do not operate as required, the Justice which is
not independent, increasing poverty, projects which are not thought and
prepared well, nepotism… On the one hand, one may think that those problems
come from the past where ethnic divisions, nepotism and dictatorship were
undeniable. But, on the other hand, the past should not be the excuse because
if one’s predecessors did this or that in a bad way one should not take them as
models or plan to revenge. Today’s leaders should never say:” even before us
things were worse than this”. However, even the predecessors should never
accuse the successors of misbehaving if they had been misbehaving equally
before them. Today’s leaders (both ruling and seeking to rule) have to be
people who feel and will to make a new pathway. In short, those problems of the
second group are the results of the fact politicians see power as a rapid way
to wealth. So, they don’t think about long-term projects neither for themselves
nor for the country. The immaturity in democracy which characterizes
politicians is a serious obstacle which hampers the development of our country
in all domains. Let us dive in details about serious problems to which
Burundian politicians should address today. Those problems are political, economic
and social ones.
In the political domain, problems are identified in the way
institutions operate. Generally, democratic principles planned the separation
of powers. This helps to guarantee the freedom of every power and when all the
powers operate well they create complementarity. Today, the main reason why
politicians fight for the power is that they all want to access that power
which put itself above other powers. Here, the Executive supervise and controls
others powers. In Burundi, the President of the Republic comes from the same
political party as the President of the National Assembly and the Minister of
Justice. The last two personalities should operate in total independence for
the interests of the nation. For example, the National Assembly has the
prerogative to control and check the performance of the Executive, especially
how the budget is annually used. Has that ever been done? Where the money was
misused, were the actors punished? Glancing at the judiciary system, is taking
the President of the Republic to the court possible? What about ministers? Does
it mean that they are all innocent? I don’t think so! The inexistence of the
High Court of Justice has the mistakes and sins of higher personalities unpunished;
what is so dangerous for the country. This is because those untouchable people
protect their members from the top to the bottom. Consequently is found guilty
only that who does not have anybody from the top to protect him. So, where does
this come from?
The origin of everything is set in the law. Every institution
is regulated by its own law. If the Executive controls the Legislative and the
Judiciary something is wrong at the level of the National Constitution and
other laws. For example, the President of the Republic should not have the
prerogative to appoint the Minister of Justice. There has recently been arguing
about the Constitutional Court. Truly, the members of the Constitutional Court
should not be appointed by the President of the Republic when we take into
consideration that he would come back to the Court for the validation of his
candidacy. Look, the President of the Republic is the Supreme Chief, the
Supreme Judge, the Supreme Commander … The President of the Republic has
extraordinary power which is far beyond the power of citizens who make him the
President. That is why when it is time to compete for the presidential position
every potential candidate wants to be the president by all means. It is like
the President inherited the country! Then, it is noticeable that as long as the
law is built the way it is there will never be complementarity between powers
and the leaders will always be fighting for the Executive not because they want
to bring about change but because they want to access the most extreme
position. Then, between institution and law what is the place of citizens?
We have been hearing new concepts which are cooperating in a
triangle or rectangle. A triangle had the members of the government at the top
and the security forces and the judges at the other angles of the triangle. The
rectangle includes ordinary citizens as participants. There are the citizens
who see almost everything and inform the administration. The latter cooperates
with the police which investigates and transfers the case in the court. However,
that does not mean that citizens are given the place they deserve. Most often,
those rectangles are stronger in places where there is most influence from one
political party or where people think almost the same. For example, where I
live, I have never seen the Mixed Committee of Security. So, I ignore what it
does. Those rectangles, then, operate more in some places than in others or
they are dominated by people who share the same political views. In this case,
they are dangerous as they can increase suspicion between people. Do we find the
place of citizens in those rectangles?
Not at all! Citizens should be obeyed. They are the ones who
give power, materials, salaries and advantages to the leaders. These should
come back and serve the population who elected them. For example, 90% of the population
are farmers. Is the money allocated to agriculture enough to sustain lives of
90% of the population? Today, law allows a resident from a commune to ask about
the financial situation of his commune. Can the administrator really give the
accountability to the ordinary citizen? If the government never gives
accountability to the National Assembly, can the administrator give
accountability to a peasant? Why do leaders look upon the ordinary citizen when
they cannot be without him? How many officials have been punished for being
unjust to the ordinary citizen? This results from the fact that some officials
are appointed by the untouchable leaders. Thus, even when someone tries to
condemn them, an order from the top intervenes. But the top does not make
itself top. It is rather made the top by the ordinary citizens.
Taking into account that the leaders and citizens are based
in the society and that they both affect it, we had better talk about the
social domain before the economic one. We earlier said that leaders forget that
citizens are the center around which everything rotates. Let us remember that a
hungry man is an angry man. Not having the appropriate care increases their
anger. We all witnessed how Bujumbura residents raised their voices. If nothing
is done in coming days, residents from all the provinces will be protesting and
demonstrating. However, it is doubtful to see that most people went to protest
against the third term instead of claiming for their basic rights. Every
Burundian has three basic needs which must be fulfilled. These are the right to
have food, the right to have a shelter, and the right to have healthcare. These
rights are guaranteed by the national constitution. We, then, fought for a
wrong cause and wanted to stop NKURUNZIZA’s term and killed each other for the
term instead of demanding the government to give us our rights or vote for
others in peace!
Failing to fulfill basic rights goes with increasing poverty,
from a day to another. The causes of poverty are various but let us point at
one of them: corruption. This is a serious problem in our country. Today,
public services which are provided without corruption are very few. However,
corruption impoverishes the majority and enriches very few people. Those who do
not have anything to give are denied their rights. Corruption is, thus,
difficult to fight for various ill reasons:
-
First,
the problem related with regulations. For example, there is no court that can
try the President of the Republic, Ministers or Generals. If one of the
personalities above commits the sin, it is unpunished.
-
Second,
there is a practice we should give up. This is negative solidarity. For
example, if an administrator is caught taking corruption and then a Minister or
Member of Parliament pleads for him, the case is forgotten. This increases
impunity!
-
Third,
nepotism works in favor of the one who is close to the administration but those
who are not close to the administration use money in order to get the service.
Another serious issue from the social domain is joblessness
or the lack of job opportunities. Today, Burundian citizens who are awarded
with diplomas or degrees, a year, are far more than the number of jobs which
are provided, a year, equally. And this is not understandable since even the
number of educated people in Burundi is too low (only about 15%). So, if the
country cannot provide jobs to 15%, what will happen when there are 50% of
educated people or more? The government, then, should think about new domains
which can provide new jobs. Otherwise, they should plan on support new
graduates with creating their own jobs. However, new graduates should stop the
oldest mentality as what jobs have to come only from the public sector. They
should think about the plan B; what they can do on their own when the state
cannot help. New graduates should not underestimate simple jobs (waiter,
cultivating, transport, barber, gardener, barkeeper …).
We should not end the social section without mentioning the
extraordinary speed of the population growth. The number of the Burundian
population increases more than it was in 90s or 80s. The overpopulation is a
serious problem since the land does never expand and keeps deteriorating. In
some areas for example a square kilometer is inhabited by more than 400 people.
If the speed does not decrease, conflicts related with lands will increase. We
can think that the government is not doing anything to stop overpopulation
because, instead of charging women who go to give birth, the government pays
for them (without limit). The government should limit the number of children
who are begot freely at only three and increase highly the prices for everyone
who gives birth to more than three children. Besides, the parents who have more
than three children should pay school fees for the additional ones.
In the economic domain, the major problem is the imbalance
between importation and exportation. Here, we import more than we export. When
businessmen go to buy items abroad, they pay in foreign currencies such as
dollars or euros. Those currencies are surely expensive if we compare them to
the value of our currency. In other words, we sell a greater quantity of
products locally and we exchange our income in order to buy most expensive
things we do not produce. Economically, when you export more than you import,
you gain. But, when you import more than you export, you lose. In the case of
our country, it is impossible to export more than we import because the local
production is even insufficient. We notice this through the increasing loss of
value of our currency. Normally, that loss of value of the currency is mostly
caused by low production. When the production is low, prices increase because
the supply is inferior to the demand. The vendor, then, increases the price
because the products which are being sold are rare. On the other hand, if the
supply is superior to the demand, prices decrease and the purchaser buys at a
lower price.
Another serious problem in the economic domain is misusing or
misallocating the national wealth. Truly, we cannot know the criteria they put
in order to allocate the budget here or there. Look: about 50% of the yearly
budget is used in daily expenses of the government. The amount of money which
goes in productive sectors is too little. About 15% of the budget goes to
agriculture. However, this amount is not enough at all to solve the problem of
food shortage. And we should never forget that agriculture is the most
essential domain in every country. Before thinking about resources and sources
of energy, let us think about how we can provide best diets to our population.
In fact, good nutrition is a sign and indicator of the way of living of people.
By the way, all over the world, no country reached development without
necessarily developing agriculture. When agriculture is developed, it
stimulates agricultural industries. And so, exporters can sell local products
with security and quality. The national wealth, then, is not well used in that
there has not been public investment which would benefit the ordinary people.
Other economic problems we can point at are tiring investors and
not preparing well our projects. About foreign investments, our government has
made effort in amending laws. However, investing in Burundi is not that easy
yet because of the problem we earlier said: corruption. Then, if someone wants
to invest in Burundi and he is obliged to pay unjustified amounts of money, he
goes to invest somewhere else. As for thinking and preparing projects, we can
notice that they are not well thought and prepared. For example, the Imbo
region is fertile and productive but when they are expanding the town they
build on portions which would be agriculturally productive. Why can’t they
reserve those fertile pieces of land for agriculture and build other areas like
Mugamba region or Bututsi? This was said long ago but there has never been a
solution to that problem. Still, changing this mentality or practice would be beneficial.
For example, stopping to build on the shores of Tanganyika decreases the amount
of polluting substances which come from surrounding houses into the lake. So,
what will happen if we do not change? There is a danger ahead!
Here above are mentioned true problems our country has; which
should be addressed. As Burundian politicians went in peace talks, can we
expect that they will debate and find solutions to those problems? If we
examine every detail and take into account the past of our country, we should
have too little hope. Our political leaders are people who change easily even
when it is not necessary. If you slice a small piece of the national cake and
you give it to them, they forget everything and they give up their fight. These
days, there is an expression which has been mostly used. The expression is
“giving the honor to the citizens”. The expression itself was good if it was
not only a slogan or criticism to access the power. Each part always uses the
expression to mean that all they fight for is in the interest of the ordinary
people. Then, what is hidden behind the expression? (We earlier said it). Then,
if the mediator in the Burundian crisis can really help us reach an agreement
and lasting security, he should first know what the parts are and their
backgrounds (before, during and after 2015 elections). The mediator should be
aware that Burundian politicians are people who work for their own interests
through the citizen’s name. For example, they dialogued until they sign
together the road map but they failed to reach an agreement during the
dialogues which took place a bit before 2015 presidential elections. It is not
surprising because with elections politicians get or lose their interests! In
fact, the ruling party wanted to compete with an unprepared opposition in order
to gain as many seats as possible. On the other hand, the opposition wanted the
transition because they could have seats without competing. Let us remember
that Ikibiri coalition did never announce their candidate! In other words they
were not ready for the elections.
Today, the situation is as delicate as complex. The government
stay at their position and say that they cannot share the power with people who
boycotted elections. On the other hand, the opposition stay at their position
and say that the government is illegal and illegitimate and the elections were
held during a worse political context. When the ruling part enjoys power, the
opposition is still claiming for inclusive and transparent elections which
would be preceded by a transition. Depending on everyone’s position, one may
think that the government is right or that the opposition is right. However,
none of them is right. Be it the government, the opposition, associations or
the international organization, they are all feature various weaknesses.
The weaknesses of the
government (the ruling party)
-
The
government and the ruling party CNDD-FDD failed to master extreme power they
got with 2010 elections. They have been careless and forgot that in the
following years they would be evaluated on basis of their performance. And so
the opposition parties were able to point at so many mistakes; during their
terms.
-
The
government did not find solutions to sensitive issues such as harder life or
expensive cost of living, fighting the impunity, corruption, nepotism,…until
nothing could be done unless it was done by the ruling party or by an eminent
ruling party member or with the support of the latter.
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The
government failed to find a solution to misunderstandings and sometimes fights
which often took place between youths from political parties such as
Imbonerakure, Ivyuma vy’indege, and others.
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Instead
of addressing sensitive issues which victimize ordinary citizens, the
government always tries to make people think they were satisfied, in offering
expensive parties, giving gifts. The only social projects were the community
works, healthcare to pregnant mothers and giving birth, and giving basic
education freely. However, the nationals needed other things such as good nutrition,
fair Justice, lower prices, zero corruption, job opportunities, equal treatment…
Weaknesses of the
opposition parties
-
They
showed that they love themselves more than they love Burundians since they boycotted
2010 elections. If the ruling party has the extreme power in all institutions,
it is the result of the wrong decision the opposition parties took. Still,
those who suffered a lot are the ordinary people.
-
The
opposition parties misbehaved in creating or supporting rebellions. We all
remember FNL and NZABAMPEMA, FRONABU Tabara and KABIRIGI…
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The
opposition parties caused the government to prevent them from reaching the
field because all they always said was that the ruling party had tricked
elections. Instead of letting their members know their social projects, they
only blamed the government and the ruling party.
-
From
a frying pan into fire, the opposition parties again boycotted 2015 elections.
They could have gained enough seats to stop bad or badly-thought laws. The
other mistake was that the protests against the third term were characterized
by too much violence, non-respect of other people’s rights such as traffic,
studying, healthcare…until some protesters became rebels.
Weaknesses of
associations and international organizations
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Associations
misbehaved in refusing the third term at the behalf of political parties.
Associations should not go at the front line; rather the opposition political
parties. It was revealed as some leaders of associations did not like the
ruling party and did all they could do so as to change the power, willy-nilly.
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Some
associations were characterized by only criticizing while others were
characterized by only praising.
Weaknesses of the international
community
-
The
political tension went up day after day in the sight of the international community.
At the end of talks which brought the road map, they had agreed to hold similar
talks every three months. This was not put into practice.
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The
International Community calmed or neglected some information. For example, the
UN has issued a report which accused RWASA and SINDUHIJE of creating rebellions
after 2010 elections. And not long from today, the American government put
sanctions on the same name of SINDUHIJE. They accused him of organizing and
financing groups which have the task of assaulting high-ranking authorities.
Still, the hypothesis as what Burundians who fled to Rwanda are military
trained is not technically confirmed nor dismissed. The truth is not known yet.
Knowing the disease is half the cure. As we know the true
problems (even though they are not all) we can find solutions to them. The
solutions depend on the following three things:
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The
will of the participants to the talks: those politicians and other participants
from the civil society can make it if they really want to. If they discuss
about everything, without neglecting any details and, if they put their own
interests beside and put at the front the national interests and the future of
our country, they can find lasting solutions.
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The
techniques and the cleverness of the mediator: that mediator followed other two
who were respectively rejected by the opposition parties and the ruling party.
So, he should use extraordinary techniques, cleverness and wisdom.
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The
role and the behavior of the international community: the international community
should see that masses of Burundians are tired of this endless violence. They
should provide what is needed to facilitate the talks without influencing any
group because of these interests or those ones.
Those three things mentioned above will really help us reach
an agreement which will bring about peace. Beside peace, we also need
prosperity in our country. As the politicians and associations representatives
were honored to represent us in the peace talks, may they act in the major
interest of the citizens in general! Those participants and the mediator have
what they think are the solutions. However, there are other solutions we should
propose them. Those solutions can help our country. They are divided into two
categories: technical solutions and political solutions.
Technical Solutions
1. There
should be the separation of powers. This will help to set the limit between
powers and the transparency increased. Then, even the Constitutional Court will
be fully trusted and they will have total independence.
2. Complete
institutions and have the already-existing ones operate efficiently. For
example the High Court of Justice is not set yet when it is needed. The True
and Reconciliation Commission is also needed. As there were those who said that
they were not represented these peace talks would examine the issue so as to
have all the groups feel they are represented.
3.
Laws
which enable good governance should be voted. Leaders should, then, show the
population that they are serving them as required. The already-existing laws
should be obeyed. Otherwise, punishments should be given to both bad-behaving
leaders and citizens.
4.
The
nation and citizens should be given respect and the appropriate place as
politicians can never be without them.
5. Everything,
which can enable good governance to improve, should be set or updated. We can
say good laws, sensitization…
6..
We
should stop with corruption, embezzlement, nepotism, impunity, negative
solidarity, harassment and torture… the actors of those atrocities should be
punished.
7.
There
should be a plan to create jobs and increase production. The graduates should
gather themselves in associations and be supported. They should never
underestimate jobs.
8.
Jobs
should be offered transparently and the right people should be in the right
positions.
9.
Competition
should be entrenched in our culture and our working environment. That who works
well should be awarded and that who works badly should be warned or punished.
1.
The
national wealth should be divided equally until the ordinary men benefit
equally, through public projects and services, on the basis of the idea that
the citizens are the source of the national income. They should taste it
equally.
1.
Social
projects have to be well planned without taking into account what the officials
get, but thinking about what can improve the global condition.
Briefly, we should learn to show respect to our country and
all its wealth. We should serve our country in the perspective of lasting
development. We should reward those who do better and substitute or punish
those who misbehave.
Political Solutions
1.
Politicians
who are accused of causing insecurity should give it up. However, they should
be forgiven.
2.
There
should be a squad of about 50 or 100 foreign soldiers who would escort
politicians who fled the country so that they come back in the country. The
soldiers would stay until the situation is better again. Refugees should also
be repatriated.
3.
Peace
talks should be held in Burundi. This will help to have many citizens
participate or contribute. Those who participated in Kampala are the ones who
had participated in Arusha. However, there are still many others who can give
strong and useful advice. Moreover, every Burundian has the right to know and
contribute in what happens in his country.
4.
All
politicians should have access to the field and be able to talk to the members
of their political parties. However, they should stop blaming and accusing
other parties. But they should tell their members their plans and projects.
5.
Politicians
should gather themselves around useful ideologies. The number of political
parties should be reduced to 5 at most. This will help to strengthen political
parties.
6.
Politicians
who boycotted elections should be given jobs. Not political seats because the
transition would come to destroy the little democracy we have, by defying the
majority of citizens who participated in the elections.
7.
Precautions
should be taken so that the coming elections do not reproduce the same scenes.
Digital Identity Cards should be printed and replace the old ones.
8.
Politicians
should learn to put the interests of the country above their own interests. The
winner should serve all and the loser should contain his failure.
Those technical solutions and those political ones will help
us to overcome this situation. However, building peace is not something which
is done overnight. It is rather a process. And, whenever a misunderstanding
arises, politicians should resolve to dialogue instead of resolving to fight.
We should learn to acknowledge our mistakes and accept to correct them. We
should change some bad mentalities and put the interests of the country above
ours. We should also think about the future and set long-term projects. We
should put into practice the existing laws. We should stop with impunity,
negative solidarity, nepotism…
In one sentence, we should be united for the sake of our
common wealth which is our country Burundi.
Long live the National Unity,
Long live Democracy,
Long live Burundi and Burundians,
Thank you very much!
By: Seth NDUWAYO
By: Seth NDUWAYO
