12-26-2016 ■ President Pierre Nkurunziza announced prosecutions against the African Union in compensation for Burundian troops in Somalia. Written by Agnès Ndirubusa and Christian Bigirimana. Translated by Pierre Emmanuel Ngendakumana “Burundians have got a gift, that of engaging in legal proceedings and not letting go of the case”, said President Pierre (...)

12-24-2016 ■ On 23 December, the National Assembly adopted a draft law amending the general framework of cooperation between the Government of Burundi and foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Article 18 (4) of the draft law stipulates that the recruitment of local staff must be carried out in accordance with the ethnic (...)

12-22-2016 ■ While presenting the annual report of activities carried out by the Ministry of Public Security on 21 December, Alain Guillaume Bunyoni, Minister of Public Security said the year 2016 was characterized by heightened security throughout the country. He, however, evoked some cases of assassinations, enforced disappearances and armed attacks (...)

12-21-2016 ■ “We have accomplished much and there are many more activities to do next year”, said Emmanuel Ntahomvukiye, the Defense Minister as he presented his ministry’s accomplishments for this year and plans for 2017. He said that among the many plans the ministry has, it will work towards the creation (...)

12-19-2016 ■ The facilitator in Burundi crisis felt it was essential to end the issue of the legitimacy of President Pierre Nkurunziza to move forward. Written by Agnès Ndirubusa and translated by Pierre Emmanuel Ngendakumana “Those who want me to question the legitimacy of Pierre Nkurunziza are out of their mind, (...)

12-15-2016 ■ Sylvestre Ntibantunganya, the former Burundi President, returned home from his exile in Belgium on 11 December. The civil society platforms PISC Burundi and CAPES+ have reserved to him a warm welcome. “This demonstrates political maturity and high civic responsibility”, says the rights groups that urged other Burundians in exile (...)

12-15-2016 ■ The police have searched apartments occupied mainly by Belgian and other European citizens, employees of NGOs, and other international organisations in Kabondo area in the capital Bujumbura. A resident who spoke on the condition of anonymity said only one officer not in police uniform with a search warrant entered (...)

12-13-2016 ■ In a correspondence addressed to William Benjamin Mkapa, Facilitator in the Burundian conflict on 12 December, the platform of the opposition parties-CNARED-GIRITEKA says it no longer recognizes Mkapa as a facilitator in the inter-Burundian dialogue process. CENARED-GIRITEKA says “Mkapa has supported the violation of the Burundi constitution and the (...)

12-12-2016 ■ The facilitator in the Burundi conflict, Benjamin Mkapa came to Burundi for a 3-day visit. His intention was to revive the inter-Burundi dialogue. Written by Agnès Ndirubusa. Translated by Pierre Emmanuel Ngendakumana On his arrival on Wednesday, December 7, Benjamin Mkapa embarked on a series of meetings. He reserved (...)

12-09-2016 ■ The facilitator of the inter-Burundian dialogue, William Benjamin Mkapa, says that Burundi Government is legal and legitimate. He mentions that those who doubt President Pierre Nkurunziza’s legitimacy are out of their minds. “The Burundian people gave legitimacy to the Government of Burundi. The 2015 Elections were held; Burundi’s constitutional (...)