Swearing in of members of National Council for Unity and Reconciliation and CVR

Seven members of the National Council for Unity and Reconciliation and three of the National Commission for Truth and Reconciliation- CVR have been sworn in this 6 February in the National Assembly under the chairmanship of President Pierre Nkurunziza.

Members of the National Council for Unity and Reconciliation will promote Unity among Burundians

The National Council for Unity and Reconciliation will be chaired by Guillaume Ruzoviyo, former Burundi Ambassador to Russia and Alice Nzomukunda, former Second Deputy President and member of the main opposition in exile CNARED as the Deputy Chairperson of the Council.

Bishop Justin Nzoyisaba, former Chairman of the National Commission of the Inter-Burundian Dialogue-CNDI has been appointed to be the Secretary of the Council. Other members of the council are Adolphe Rukekanya, former Youth Minister, Alphonse Bazonyica, Zénon Bigirimana and Médiatrice Bizabishaka.

The new chairman says the council will soon start its activities even though its creation sparked controversies among Burundians. “The main role of the members of the council is to promote unity among Burundians”, says Ruzoviyo. He also says the council will help bring back trust between Burundians living in the country and their fellows in exile so that the latter should return home peacefully.

In the same vein, three members of the National Commission for Truth and Reconciliation-CVR have also been sworn. Ninziza Clément Noël, Abbot Pascal Niyonkuru and Léonce Ngabo have respectively replaced Bishop Bernard Ntahoturi, Didace Kiganahe and Désiré Yamuremye.

Bishop Jean-Louis Nahimana says the three members will contribute much to the accomplishment of the commission’s achievements. “The work which was previously done by eight members will from now on be done by 11,” he says.

He says the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was put in place at a difficult time. It is at this moment that its members must assume their responsibilities and show their determination to prepare a better future for the country”, he says.