The 4th anniversary of the failed coup of 2015 has been characterized by a firm tone of power. On the eve of the 2020 elections, tensions are far from being eased.
The remembrance of four years after the failed coup in 2015 by the power of Gitega has been marked by a particular court decision.
A jubilant scene on the day of the May 13, 2015 coup
In a statement released on Wednesday May 15, the Supreme Court and the public prosecutor ordered the seizure of movable property, buildings of 41 people accused of having participated in the failed coup in 2015. These assets will have to be exploited by the State “for the general interest.”
This decision adds to the international arrest warrants issued against those who have protested against the candidacy of President Pierre Nkurunziza, deemed unconstitutional.
The opposition platform in exile, CNARED and the exiled civil society reject this decision describing it as “systematic looting. » They speak of persecution, a desire to weaken their determination in their struggle and the will to shun any future revolt.
This decision comes just days after the interview that the secretary general of the ruling party CNDD-FDD gave to the national television. In this television broadcast, Evariste Ndayishimiye has given some possible solutions for Burundi to never experience again ‘ the overthrow of democratically elected institutions’. He particularly emphasized the fight against impunity for those who have misled other Burundians.
“They must be severely punished to serve as an example to all those who would like to do the same thing again”. The countries sheltering these prosecuted people are called on to bring them before the Burundian justice.
Ruling party CNDD-FDD calls for sanctions
The secretary general of the ruling party also called on the international community, mainly the West “to not strengthen people who do not wish to live in harmony with others.”
FRODEBU party regrets that the 1972 victims are doing the same thing as the 1972 regime. This opposition party recalls that the demonstrations and the failed coup resulted from the will of President Pierre Nkurunziza to remain in power through a third unconstitutional term which is contrary to the Arusha Agreement. So that history does not repeat itself, the vice-president of this party, Léonce Ngendakumana, believes that the laws must be respected in the management of the state affairs. ” It is necessary to democratically access power, democratically manage it and leave it democratically and avoid plotting a constitutional coup to cling to power.”
CNL party believes that a crisis is the result of several factors. According to Agathon Rwasa, the president of this party, the discontent of the population is generated by the attitude of power. “When democracy is misinterpreted, when there is favoritism, when some are considered super citizens while others are considered as foreigners, all this creates frustrations. For the elections to be peaceful, the justice system should seriously punish those zealous activists who mistreat other opposition parties.” Unfortunately, justice and power are in favor with some, leaving the wounds to others. »
As a reminder, the demonstrations began the day after the announcement of the candidacy of president Pierre Nkurunziza.
On May 13, Burundians and the international community learnt about the coup d’état. That announcement was differently greeted by the population. Protesters and all those who demanded the departure of President Nkurunziza took the streets jubilantly. The others were in panic and disoriented. Loyalist forces and coup plotters clashed for a few hours. The coup plotters concealed defeat the next day. The crisis that has erupted since then has forced many Burundians into exile.
A crisis far from being over
Four years after the beginning of the crisis, the situation is far from being eased. There are tensions again after the decision to seize movable and immovable property of the persons prosecuted by the Burundian justice. Gitega flexes its muscles. We are in the logic of revenge. “The regime resembles some of its bad predecessors, “said one observer.
The Attorney General orders the seizure of properties of people involved in the failed coup d’état.
The Secretary General of the ruling party regrets that there are countries ” which continue to strengthen those who have nearly plunged the country into an unprecedented crisis.”
According to him, it’s obvious that the exiled enemy continues to harm the interests of the regime.
Regarding the reports of international organizations that continue to criticize the power in place, particularly accusing it of serious violations of human rights, the power in place believes that “no doubt that these reports are produced by the opposition and the civil society that organized the failed coup. “There must be some strategies to keep away the enemy,” says the boss of the ruling party”.
So far, all attempts to get out of the crisis have remained futile. The facilitator in the inter-Burundian conflict has closed the dialogue that just fizzled out. Discouraged, President Benjamin Mkapa ended up throwing in the towel. The last round ended with the boycott by a party to the conflict: the government and the ruling party. The last summit of Heads of State of the East African Community postponed the discussion over of the Burundian issue indefinitely.
The message sent by Gitega to those who are still discussing a possible dialogue is very clear: “Move around. You won’t see anything.”
A few months before the elections, the hatchet is far from being buried. Worse enough, according to several observers, the country is moving towards radicalization. On the ground, the opposition cries out for the manhunt of its members and the locking of the political space. Nothing pacifying at all…
Translated by Pierre Emmanuel Ngendakumana
IWACU Open Data
