Weakening opposition struggles to remain united

Pancrace Cimpaye, the spokesman for CNARED GIRITEKA

Leaders of the opposition platform CNARED, civil rights organisations and the Burundi diaspora opposed to President Nkurunziza’s “anti-constitutional” third term met in Belgium from 20 to 22 January. The aim of the gathering was to “decide on the strategy to harmonize the fight for the restoration of the Rule of Law in Burundi”, says Pancrace Cimpaye, Spokesman for CNARED.

The meeting was held just few days after some members of CNARED dissented from the platform’s position and participated in consultations organised by Benjamin Mkapa, the Facilitator of the inter-Burundian dialogue that the platform no longer recognizes.

Mr. Cimpaye says their meeting was not in reaction to Mkapa’s briefing sessions with members of the opposition. For Oscar Butare, Representative of the diaspora opposed to the legitimacy of President Nkurunziza’s third term, “it was a mere coincidence” given that the meeting had been planned long before.

CNARED spokesman denies the existence of division within the opposition in regard to a roadmap that “would result in the respect of the Arusha Peace Agreement”.

However, he recognizes that there are some people “who are lured by short-term solutions; whereas, Burundi suffers from a grave crisis that needs lasting solutions”.

These people are, among other opposition leaders, six CNARED members who took part in briefing sessions that the Facilitator organised on 19 January. Mkapa had invited 24 opposition leaders gathered in the platform.

One leader of the six, who didn’t want to be named, says “Pancrace will see that what he says is wrong”.
Oscar Butore, Representative of Burundi diaspora hinting at division within the opposition, says he wishes for “cohesion within the Anti- third term campaign leaders so that they stand as one”.

Despite the challenges, Cimpaye promises that CNARED, once the most important opposition platform, will not stop the merciless fight for the restoration of the Arusha Peace Agreement and the Rule of Law in Burundi. “That noble fight has to be made and won at all cost”, he says. “It is a question of survival of an entire people”, he concludes.