12-31-2018, 01:20 AM
*** 31-Dec-18 World View -- Burundi's president Nkurunziza says Rwanda is no longer a partner but an enemy
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
****
**** Burundi's president Nkurunziza says Rwanda is no longer a partner but an enemy
****
![[Image: g181230b.jpg]](http://Media.GenerationalDynamics.com/ww2010/g181230b.jpg)
Pierre Nkurunziza and Paul Kagame (AFP)
Centuries of tribal warfare between ethnic Hutus and Tutsis in east
Africa are once again threatening to return, as relations deteriorate
between Burundi, which is led by Hutu president Pierre Nkurunziza, and
Rwanda, which is led by Tutsi president Paul Kagame.
Two weeks ago, Nkurunziza wrote a letter to Uganda's Tutsi president
Yoweri Museveni, listing a series of accusations by Rwanda against
Burundi, and asking for a meeting of the East African Community (EAC):
<QUOTE>"It is, therefore, very urgent for the East African
Community to focus on the real problem that is jeopardizing peace
and security throughout Burundi.
It is Rwanda, a state party to the treaty establishing the East
African Community, which is not at its first attempt to
destabilize its neighbor, Burundi, in violation of the
fundamental principles of the community. ...
In short, Rwanda is the only country in the region that is one of
the main destabilisers of my country and, therefore, I no longer
consider it a partner country, but simply as an enemy
country."<END QUOTE>
Nkurunziza in particular is accusing Kagame of instigating an April
2015 coup attempt against Nkurunziza. The coup attempt was triggered
when Nkurunziza refused to step down after announcing that he would
seek a third term as president, which is not permitted under Burundi's
constitution. His announcement triggered protests, and the police
responded with bullets and teargas, killing ten people in four days of
violence between youthful Tutsi protesters and police. Continued
clashes killed hundreds of people. ( "30-Apr-15 World View -- 20,000 refugees flee violence in Burundi, fearing Hutu-Tutsi war"
)
Museveni is the current president of the EAC, which has six members:
Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda, with its
headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. It was formed in 2000 to improve
relations among the member nations, and particularly to prevent a
repeat of something like the 1993-94 Hutu-Tutsi genocide in Burundi
and Rwanda.
Museveni selected Tanzania's former president Benjamin Mkapa to
evaluate Nkurunziza's accusations. Mkapa investigated and submitted a
report that rejected Nkurunziza's accusations against Kigali, and
recommended talks between Nkurunziza’s government and dissidents,
including the alleged coup plotters.
Nkurunziza responded with a decree that no outsider should interfere in
his country’s internal matters, and that any such interference "would
be to overthrow this institution elected by the people [of Burundi]."
Museveni then responded to Nkurunziza that he was manipulating the EAC,
and that "you use it when it suits you and discard it when it does
not." The Nation (Kenya, 14-Dec) and News 24 (South Africa) and AP
****
**** Burundi orders the UN to close its human rights office in Burundi
****
A United Nations human rights report in September said that Burundi
officials were committing crimes against humanity in 2017 and 2018.
"These crimes include murder, imprisonment or other severe deprivation
of physical liberty, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence
of comparable gravity, and persecution on political grounds,"
according to the report. It's believed that the Hutu government of
Pierre Nkurunziza is specifically targeting Tutsis for the crimes.
Tens of thousands of refugees, mostly Tutsis, have fled and are
staying in refugee camps in neighboring countries.
The BBC has confirmed the worst of the accusations in its own
investigations. According to the BBC, Burundi's government was
running secret detention houses to silence dissent. A video, widely
shared on social media, showed blood flowing from the drain of a house
in the capital city Bujumbura. An eyewitness said that the blood was
from beheadings.
Early in December, Burundi ordered the United Nations Human Rights
Council to leave the country. "All international staff must be
redeployed immediately, and the Office has two months to pack its bags
and close its doors permanently," according to the order.
In October 2017, judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC)
authorized an investigation into crimes committed in Burundi since
April 2015. Burundi officials reacted by withdrawing from the ICC.
Burundi was the first ever
country to leave the ICC. Reuters (5-Sep) and "BBC and
AFP (6-Dec) and Human Rights Watch (18-Jan)
****
**** Fears grow of a new Hutu-Tutsi war
****
The event overshadowing many countries in Africa, particularly
in east Africa, is the 1994 Rwanda genocide, when ethnic
Hutus slaughtered close to a million ethnic Tutsis in a period
of about three months. The threat of a new Rwanda genocide
has influenced policy in Nigeria, Central African Republic,
Sudan, and in discussions outside of Africa.
Rwanda's president Paul Kagame said a year ago said that Nkurunziza's
third term as president and his refusal to step down threatened a
repeat of the 1994 genocide. “They should have learned the lesson of
our history,” said Kagame.
Kagame's criticism is laughable because Kagame himself, as well as
Uganda's president Yoweri Museveni, have all refused to step down
after serving the maximum time permitted by the respective
constitutions. This, of course, is similar to what we've seen in
country after country in Africa.
However, from the point of view of Generational Dynamics, it's way too
soon for another full-scale Hutu-Tutsi genocide. There are too many
survivors still alive who remember the incredible horrors of the last
genocide, and they will prevent their children from letting things get
out of hand. However, the resurgence of low-level and sporadic
violence is occurring right on schedule in this generational Awakening
era. Newsweek and Global Security
Related Articles
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Burundi, Pierre Nkurunziza,
Rwanda, Paul Kagame, Uganda, Yoweri Museveni,
Hutu, Tutsi, Benjamin Mkapa,
East African Community, EAC, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania,
International Criminal Court, ICC
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
- Burundi's president Nkurunziza says Rwanda is no longer a partner but an enemy
- Burundi orders the UN to close its human rights office in Burundi
- Fears grow of a new Hutu-Tutsi war
****
**** Burundi's president Nkurunziza says Rwanda is no longer a partner but an enemy
****
Pierre Nkurunziza and Paul Kagame (AFP)
Centuries of tribal warfare between ethnic Hutus and Tutsis in east
Africa are once again threatening to return, as relations deteriorate
between Burundi, which is led by Hutu president Pierre Nkurunziza, and
Rwanda, which is led by Tutsi president Paul Kagame.
Two weeks ago, Nkurunziza wrote a letter to Uganda's Tutsi president
Yoweri Museveni, listing a series of accusations by Rwanda against
Burundi, and asking for a meeting of the East African Community (EAC):
<QUOTE>"It is, therefore, very urgent for the East African
Community to focus on the real problem that is jeopardizing peace
and security throughout Burundi.
It is Rwanda, a state party to the treaty establishing the East
African Community, which is not at its first attempt to
destabilize its neighbor, Burundi, in violation of the
fundamental principles of the community. ...
In short, Rwanda is the only country in the region that is one of
the main destabilisers of my country and, therefore, I no longer
consider it a partner country, but simply as an enemy
country."<END QUOTE>
Nkurunziza in particular is accusing Kagame of instigating an April
2015 coup attempt against Nkurunziza. The coup attempt was triggered
when Nkurunziza refused to step down after announcing that he would
seek a third term as president, which is not permitted under Burundi's
constitution. His announcement triggered protests, and the police
responded with bullets and teargas, killing ten people in four days of
violence between youthful Tutsi protesters and police. Continued
clashes killed hundreds of people. ( "30-Apr-15 World View -- 20,000 refugees flee violence in Burundi, fearing Hutu-Tutsi war"
)
Museveni is the current president of the EAC, which has six members:
Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda, with its
headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. It was formed in 2000 to improve
relations among the member nations, and particularly to prevent a
repeat of something like the 1993-94 Hutu-Tutsi genocide in Burundi
and Rwanda.
Museveni selected Tanzania's former president Benjamin Mkapa to
evaluate Nkurunziza's accusations. Mkapa investigated and submitted a
report that rejected Nkurunziza's accusations against Kigali, and
recommended talks between Nkurunziza’s government and dissidents,
including the alleged coup plotters.
Nkurunziza responded with a decree that no outsider should interfere in
his country’s internal matters, and that any such interference "would
be to overthrow this institution elected by the people [of Burundi]."
Museveni then responded to Nkurunziza that he was manipulating the EAC,
and that "you use it when it suits you and discard it when it does
not." The Nation (Kenya, 14-Dec) and News 24 (South Africa) and AP
****
**** Burundi orders the UN to close its human rights office in Burundi
****
A United Nations human rights report in September said that Burundi
officials were committing crimes against humanity in 2017 and 2018.
"These crimes include murder, imprisonment or other severe deprivation
of physical liberty, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence
of comparable gravity, and persecution on political grounds,"
according to the report. It's believed that the Hutu government of
Pierre Nkurunziza is specifically targeting Tutsis for the crimes.
Tens of thousands of refugees, mostly Tutsis, have fled and are
staying in refugee camps in neighboring countries.
The BBC has confirmed the worst of the accusations in its own
investigations. According to the BBC, Burundi's government was
running secret detention houses to silence dissent. A video, widely
shared on social media, showed blood flowing from the drain of a house
in the capital city Bujumbura. An eyewitness said that the blood was
from beheadings.
Early in December, Burundi ordered the United Nations Human Rights
Council to leave the country. "All international staff must be
redeployed immediately, and the Office has two months to pack its bags
and close its doors permanently," according to the order.
In October 2017, judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC)
authorized an investigation into crimes committed in Burundi since
April 2015. Burundi officials reacted by withdrawing from the ICC.
Burundi was the first ever
country to leave the ICC. Reuters (5-Sep) and "BBC and
AFP (6-Dec) and Human Rights Watch (18-Jan)
****
**** Fears grow of a new Hutu-Tutsi war
****
The event overshadowing many countries in Africa, particularly
in east Africa, is the 1994 Rwanda genocide, when ethnic
Hutus slaughtered close to a million ethnic Tutsis in a period
of about three months. The threat of a new Rwanda genocide
has influenced policy in Nigeria, Central African Republic,
Sudan, and in discussions outside of Africa.
Rwanda's president Paul Kagame said a year ago said that Nkurunziza's
third term as president and his refusal to step down threatened a
repeat of the 1994 genocide. “They should have learned the lesson of
our history,” said Kagame.
Kagame's criticism is laughable because Kagame himself, as well as
Uganda's president Yoweri Museveni, have all refused to step down
after serving the maximum time permitted by the respective
constitutions. This, of course, is similar to what we've seen in
country after country in Africa.
However, from the point of view of Generational Dynamics, it's way too
soon for another full-scale Hutu-Tutsi genocide. There are too many
survivors still alive who remember the incredible horrors of the last
genocide, and they will prevent their children from letting things get
out of hand. However, the resurgence of low-level and sporadic
violence is occurring right on schedule in this generational Awakening
era. Newsweek and Global Security
Related Articles
- Burundi's Hutu 'eternal supreme guide' Nkurunziza to remain in power eternally (19-Mar-2018)
- Burundi's Hutu government leaves International Criminal Court to avoid crimes against humanity charges (28-Oct-2017)
- 20,000 refugees flee violence in Burundi, fearing Hutu-Tutsi war (30-Apr-2015)
- Uganda lawmakers throw fists and chairs at each other over Museveni's power grab (28-Sep-2017)
- Rwanda's president Kagame becomes another leader refusing to leave office (19-Nov-2015)
- Burundi's Pierre Nkurunziza follows Syria's Bashar al-Assad on path to genocide (13-Oct-2016)
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Burundi, Pierre Nkurunziza,
Rwanda, Paul Kagame, Uganda, Yoweri Museveni,
Hutu, Tutsi, Benjamin Mkapa,
East African Community, EAC, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania,
International Criminal Court, ICC
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
