Former Minister of Home Affairs, Edouard Nduwimana, has been elected by Burundi Parliament as the future Ombudsman. The election has shocked some political and civil society leaders who cited his past divisive activities.
Edouard Nduwimana stepping down as an MP after his election for the Office of Ombudsman
Edouard Nduwimana, the second vice-president of the Burundian Parliament and former Minister of Home Affairs has been elected for the office of Ombudsman by the Parliament this 21 November.
Having topped the 8 short-listed candidates, Nduwimana was presented to MPs by a commission that was created by the president of the Parliament to replace Muhamed Rukara, the outgoing Ombudsman. Of the 116 MPs, 106 voted for him, 9 against while 1 abstained.
The commission’s report showed that the main criterion for selection was the service the candidate has offered to the nation especially in matters of mediation.
After his election, Nduwimana stepped down as MP because the Burundi electoral code specifies that his new function is incompatible with being a Member of the Parliament. He was immediately replaced by MP Jocky Chantal Nkurunziza, a Tutsi and member of CNDD-FDD just as Nduwimana, as the second vice president of the Parliament.
Election met with fierce criticisms
The election of Nduwimana as Burundi Ombudsman was bitterly criticized by some political and CSO leaders who accused him of having destabilized political parties and CSOs that did not please the government and CNDD-FDD ruling party when he was the Minister of Home Affairs (2010-2015).
Vital Nshimirimana, the chairman of the Forum for the reinforcement of the civil society-FORSC that has recently been banned by Burundi government, said that calling Nduwimana an Ombudsman is “a shame”. “There is no political party or civil society organisation that he didn’t seek to destabilize”, he said. He will not mediate. He will be not able to help anyone who asks for his assistance”, he added.
Thacien Sibomana, the spokesman of the branch of UPRONA party opposed to the government, said the office of Ombudsman requires courage, independence and integrity that Nduwimana does not have. “He is a zealous militant. He will do exactly what Nkurunziza and his tiny group of allies will tell him to do”. He accused the former Home Affairs Minister of having been the main actor in the division of different political parties of the opposition.
Let’s not judge him by his past
“It’s true that Nduwimana as the Minister of Home Affairs was accused of dividing political parties and CSOs, but for us, we don’t judge him by his past. We will judge him by his accomplishments as an Ombudsman”, says Abel Gashatsi, the chairman of the wing of UPRONA party close to the government.
He advised the new Ombudsman to be ready to assist Burundians from different political backgrounds. “He has to know that he has not been elected to work for the ruling party from which he is”, said Gashatsi.
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