Burundi: Reactions diverge over recent statement by Kafando to UN Security Council

“The dialogue session for political leaders held on August 3 in Kayanza, at the initiative of the Minister of the Interior, led to the adoption of a consensual roadmap for the 2020 elections,” said Michel Kafando, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy to Burundi before the UN Security Council when presenting a report on political and security situation in Burundi on August 9
Kafando says “the situation has remained calm since the constitutional referendum of May 17 apart from a few protests held by the opposition”.

Michel Kafando, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy to Burundi “… led to the adoption of a consensual roadmap for the 2020 elections,”

Tatien Sibomana, spokesperson for the opposition coalition-Amizero y’Abarundi, says he was surprised by Kafando’s speech stating that the roadmap for the 2020 elections signed during dialogue session held in Kayanza was consensual.
Mr Sibomana says it was signed by the ruling CNDD-FDD and its satellite parties only as “the opposition had boycotted the meeting.” .
He says the amendment to the 2005 Constitution violated the Arusha Peace Agreement and Reconciliation which was the pillar of peace and stability in Burundi. “The new constitution has transformed the ruling CNDD-FDD party into a single party system in the country. How can we say that the country is calm while all other political parties do not operate anymore?” wonders Sibomana.

Olivier Nkurunziza, Secretary General of UPRONA party, argues that peace and security reign in Burundi. He congratulates the government for successfully organizing the Kayanza meeting which enabled politicians to sign a road map for the 2020 elections. He calls on the Ministry of the Interior to facilitate politicians who did not sign the roadmap to do so. For him, politicians in exile should return to participate in the 2020 elections.

As for Jean Baptiste Baribonekeza, Chairman of the National Independent Commission for Human Rights, he says he welcomed Michel Kafando’s statement to the Security Council in which he mentioned the improvement in the political and economic situation in Burundi as well as the signing of a consensual road map for the 2020 elections. He calls on the European Union to reconsider its decision to suspend cooperation with Burundi.