08-30-2018 ■ The National Assembly has approved seven members of the new Independent National Electoral Commission-CENI, namely Philippe Nzobonariba (Hutu), Annonciate Niyonkuru (Tutsi), Jean Anastase Hicuburundi (Hutu), Hyacinthe Niyonzima (Hutu), Serges Ndayiragije (Tutsi), Pierre-Claver Kazihise (Hutu)-, Marguerite Kamana (Hutu). Two of them, Philippe Nzobonariba- spokesperson for Burundi government and Serges Ndayiragije- (...)

08-27-2018 ■ The “last” session of the talks would be held soon. But the results of Mkapa’s work remain very mixed. The opposition accuses him of having not been able to organize real inclusive talks to date. During its last visit, the delegation of Mkapa-led facilitation was able to convince Bujumbura (...)

08-25-2018 ■ Ezéckiel Nibigira, Minister of Foreign Affairs has met the diplomatic corps and international organizations operating in Burundi, this 23 August. They have discussed the security and political situation prevailing in Burundi. Some of the points discussed included the implementation of the new Constitution vis-à-vis the 2020 elections, the process (...)

08-24-2018 ■ Léonce Ngendakumana, Deputy Chairman of Sahwanya FRODEBU party says the UN Security Council has always taken decisions and resolutions but their implementations have remained a challenge. “They always failed in their efforts to help Burundians overcome this lasting crisis”, he says. In the statement issued on 22 August, members (...)

08-22-2018 ■ “Anyone who will attempt to overthrow government elected institutions will always be victim of their actions,” said President Pierre Nkurunziza, on Monday 20 August, in a speech to the nation, three years after he was elected president in 2015. According to him, Burundi is progressing in terms of multiparty (...)

08-20-2018 ■ Térence Ntahiraja, Spokesperson for ministry of Home Affairs says Burundi government has never been opposed to dialogue. “Burundi government will attend the upcoming dialog session only if it is well organized,” he says adding that he believes it will be the last. On 14 august, Mr Ntahiraja had said (...)

08-19-2018 ■ “CNDD-FDD party is ready to participate in the upcoming inter-Burundian dialogue session under the auspices of facilitator William Benjamin Mkapa,” said Joseph Ntakarutimana, deputy secretary-general of the ruling party on August 17, after a close consultation held between CNDD-FDD officials and the facilitation team in Bujumbura. Ntakarutimana wishes that (...)

08-14-2018 ■ “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 (...)

08-13-2018 ■ Kayanza’s “Musumba Hotel” hosted on 3 August the signing of a “road map” to 2020 elections, which is not unanimous. First, an observation: Do political parties that attended the meeting in Kayanza really dominate the Burundian political scene? Of course, 22 out of 32 political forces authorized in Burundi (...)

08-10-2018 ■ Addressing the UN Security Council on 9 August, Michel Kafando, UN Special Envoy of the Secretary General for Burundi says two major activities should be undertaken to find solutions to the current political issues. “Political parties should work together to create a new political environment which leads to consolidation (...)