EAC MUST SECURE PEACE IN BURUNDI FOR STABILITY

Protesters run past a Burundian police riot van in Musaga, on the ourskirts of Bujumbura, on April 27, 2015. Police and opposition activists clashed on the second day of protests against a bid by the central African nation’s president to seek a controversial third term in office.  PHOTO | AFP

The situation in Burundi is dire, according to reports coming out of that country. Opposition parties have protested the decision by the ruling party, CNDD-FDD, to allow incumbent President Pierre Nkurunziza to stand for a third term in the poll scheduled for June.

According to the Red Cross, at least seven people have been killed and 65 others injured. The violence is reportedly spreading to other provinces along with the capital, Bujumbura.

The developments in the tiny Central African nation, which is also a member of the East African Community, pose a major challenge to the efforts that ended a 13-year civil war that saw over 300,000 people killed. The mediation efforts, started by Julius Nyerere and later taken up by Nelson Mandela, resulted in the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Accord.

Just this week, hundreds of university students sought refuge at the United States embassy in Bujumbura claiming they feared for their lives after some of their mates went missing when they were sent home. Further reports have it that over 12,000 people have crossed over into Rwanda. Those fleeing for their lives speak of murder, torture and intimidation that are supposedly orchestrated by members of the ruling party.

If these claims and reports are anywhere close to the truth, Burundi is on the brink of a civil war. It means the peace and reconciliation that the people of Burundi worked so hard to achieve, with the support of the international community, is a wasted effort. The many sacrifices that various parties made have literally gone to waste.

Role of East Africa

This brings us to the dumbfounding silence of the East African Community member states. Their silence is so loud that the citizens of Burundi would be forgiven if they accused regional powers-that-be of betrayal in their hour of need.

One of the things that the parties to the Burundi conflict agreed on in the Arusha Peace Accord is this: The Parties commit themselves to refrain from any act or behaviour contrary to the provisions of the agreement, and to spare no effort to ensure that those provisions are respected and implemented in letter and spirit in order to ensure genuine unity, reconciliation, lasting peace, security for all, solid democracy and equitable sharing of resources are achieved.

Mr Nkurunziza has already served two presidential terms. The constitution does not allow him a third term. The fact that his party has just endorsed him to bid for yet another term is clearly a violation of the constitution and the earlier agreements that the people of Burundi endorsed. Such behaviour contravenes the provisions of the Peace Agreement. Too many times, we have seen incumbent presidents in Africa change the constitutions of their countries so they can hang on to office. 

This trend appears to be spreading fast in Africa. East African states must not allow the situation in Burundi to deteriorate further. They need to intervene and help secure the peace and security of ordinary citizens. The international community cannot wait until the number of deaths turn into tens of thousands before they take actions.

If there are camps that are fanning fear and instability, they must be investigated to allow justice to take its course.

Prevention is famously said to be better than cure. The Great Lakes countries and the international community must not wait until there is a full-blown war in Burundi before they intervene. Peace and security in the region depend on the stability of the individual member states.

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