AMECEA: Is this the Africa we want? A Looming Crisis in Burundi Under Our Watch
It is oftensaid that the wearer of the shoe knows where it pinches. Listening to the sad
story of a young Burundian living far away from home yet is traumatized by the
ongoing killings of innocent people whose mutilated bodies keep appearing on the streets without anybody taking responsibilities; the
question of whether it is better to join hands as an international community
and stop a possible genocide from taking place or wait until it happens
then rush in to stop it comes to mind.
The crisis
in Burundi is deepening and the world seems to have turned a blind eye. Media
reports and statements in the last few weeks are alarming and this sounds like
a script replaying itself. According to the BBC, “the UN is less equipped to
deal with violence in Burundi than it was for the Rwandan genocide. Scott
Campbell, who was speaking to BBC, further warned that the UN’s lack of
peacekeeping presence in the country means it is less able to help,”
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-34771929.
in Burundi is deepening and the world seems to have turned a blind eye. Media
reports and statements in the last few weeks are alarming and this sounds like
a script replaying itself. According to the BBC, “the UN is less equipped to
deal with violence in Burundi than it was for the Rwandan genocide. Scott
Campbell, who was speaking to BBC, further warned that the UN’s lack of
peacekeeping presence in the country means it is less able to help,”
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-34771929.
The French
government has tried to respond to the “silent crisis” through presenting a
resolution to the UN Security Council for sanctions against the
perpetrators. However, it is equally
shocking that media reports indicate that the French Foreign Minister says
“Burundi is not burning”. How many deaths define “burning”? Or are we only concerned when buildings are
on fire? This is not the Africa we want.
government has tried to respond to the “silent crisis” through presenting a
resolution to the UN Security Council for sanctions against the
perpetrators. However, it is equally
shocking that media reports indicate that the French Foreign Minister says
“Burundi is not burning”. How many deaths define “burning”? Or are we only concerned when buildings are
on fire? This is not the Africa we want.
It comes as
a relief that the UN Security Council on Thursday 12th November unanimously
adopted the French-drafted measure that strongly condemned the wave of
killings, torture, arrests and other rights violations in Burundi and the UN
officials are drawing up plans including rushing UN peacekeepers from the
Democratic Republic of Congo to Burundi, or deploying a regional force under
the African Union, if the violence spirals out of control.
a relief that the UN Security Council on Thursday 12th November unanimously
adopted the French-drafted measure that strongly condemned the wave of
killings, torture, arrests and other rights violations in Burundi and the UN
officials are drawing up plans including rushing UN peacekeepers from the
Democratic Republic of Congo to Burundi, or deploying a regional force under
the African Union, if the violence spirals out of control.
The
President of Rwanda His Excellency Paul Kagame has sounded a warning of the
lack of action by international community. If we recall back in 2007/08 Kenyan
violence, President Kagame was also on record in raising concerns to the Kenyan
citizen and the international community on how easy it is to move from one
death to 1 million deaths!! This is not the Africa we want.
President of Rwanda His Excellency Paul Kagame has sounded a warning of the
lack of action by international community. If we recall back in 2007/08 Kenyan
violence, President Kagame was also on record in raising concerns to the Kenyan
citizen and the international community on how easy it is to move from one
death to 1 million deaths!! This is not the Africa we want.
According to
Caritas Director from Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), there has been an
influx of refugees coming in from Burundi to the refugee camps in Kigoma Region
which borders Burundi. TEC Caritas Director Mr. Laurenti Mausi who was in Kigoma
over last weekend said that almost 200 refugees from Burundi are arriving daily
into the camps in Kigoma and so far the total numbers of refugees from Burundi
are over 100,000 people. This is not the Africa we want!
Caritas Director from Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), there has been an
influx of refugees coming in from Burundi to the refugee camps in Kigoma Region
which borders Burundi. TEC Caritas Director Mr. Laurenti Mausi who was in Kigoma
over last weekend said that almost 200 refugees from Burundi are arriving daily
into the camps in Kigoma and so far the total numbers of refugees from Burundi
are over 100,000 people. This is not the Africa we want!
I have
personally seen photos of mutilated bodies coming out of Burundi. Therefore we
need to remember that not one life should be lost in the name of settling
political scores. As reported over 250 people have been killed and over 200,000
have fled to nearby states since April. We know that at least 100,000 are in
Tanzania. This is not the Africa we want.
personally seen photos of mutilated bodies coming out of Burundi. Therefore we
need to remember that not one life should be lost in the name of settling
political scores. As reported over 250 people have been killed and over 200,000
have fled to nearby states since April. We know that at least 100,000 are in
Tanzania. This is not the Africa we want.
I am humbly
and with heavy heart requesting that the Regional Countries and the African
Union do more to resolve the crisis. I
also call upon the African citizen and especially those of Burundi to become
Christ like and offer love to each other in this time of crisis. Replace this escalating hatred with healing
love that wipes out the scars that may have been left on you in this or
previous crisis. Embrace your fellow human being and replace conflict with
sisterly and brotherly co-existence. Pray for peace, Pray for Burundi, Pray for
Africa. This is the Africa we want!
and with heavy heart requesting that the Regional Countries and the African
Union do more to resolve the crisis. I
also call upon the African citizen and especially those of Burundi to become
Christ like and offer love to each other in this time of crisis. Replace this escalating hatred with healing
love that wipes out the scars that may have been left on you in this or
previous crisis. Embrace your fellow human being and replace conflict with
sisterly and brotherly co-existence. Pray for peace, Pray for Burundi, Pray for
Africa. This is the Africa we want!
I bring you
a story of a young Burundian struggling with the situation in that country. The
question of being part of a country where those charged with protecting and
defending you, are actually the ones systematically killing your friends and
your relatives. Should one speak out and put the family at risk?
a story of a young Burundian struggling with the situation in that country. The
question of being part of a country where those charged with protecting and
defending you, are actually the ones systematically killing your friends and
your relatives. Should one speak out and put the family at risk?
The question
of whether they should go back to the country and raise the concerns from
within while risking being killed. I
believe these are issues going through the many Burundians who are finding
themselves as targets of a political violence orchestrated as an ethnic
conflict. Take a moment and read the
story of this young Burundi.
of whether they should go back to the country and raise the concerns from
within while risking being killed. I
believe these are issues going through the many Burundians who are finding
themselves as targets of a political violence orchestrated as an ethnic
conflict. Take a moment and read the
story of this young Burundi.
By Antony Mbandi – AMECEA Justice Peace and
Caritas Coordinator
Caritas Coordinator
The untold incurable wounds of a young
Burundian told in own words
Burundian told in own words
From October 21, 1993; four months after my birth, President Melchior Ndadaye
was assassinated and it was the outbreak of the war with machetes that led to
the genocide of thousands of Tutsi and moderate Hutu in Rwanda and Burundi.
was assassinated and it was the outbreak of the war with machetes that led to
the genocide of thousands of Tutsi and moderate Hutu in Rwanda and Burundi.
I recall vividly that my family and many other Tutsi
families were refugees in a Brigade camp to escape the massacre. On the other
side of our refugee camp, were echoing the cries of the unfortunate people who
were being executed. And like all children from a Tutsi family, I constantly
recall and attend to recaps of the dark and tragic events of 1993. The words
“Hutu” kept coming back during many of the discussions.
families were refugees in a Brigade camp to escape the massacre. On the other
side of our refugee camp, were echoing the cries of the unfortunate people who
were being executed. And like all children from a Tutsi family, I constantly
recall and attend to recaps of the dark and tragic events of 1993. The words
“Hutu” kept coming back during many of the discussions.
After these terrible events of 1993, the civil war
continued for over ten years. It was a terrible period when we lived without
shelter and slept in cold and along the corridors. Sometimes the schools were
closed because the invasion of the rebels in the capital, the sporadic ambushes
and grenade attacks we were not allowed to go far from the capital and
sometimes could not attend school.
continued for over ten years. It was a terrible period when we lived without
shelter and slept in cold and along the corridors. Sometimes the schools were
closed because the invasion of the rebels in the capital, the sporadic ambushes
and grenade attacks we were not allowed to go far from the capital and
sometimes could not attend school.
In short, I am a survivor of the 1993 Tutsi genocide
because my beloved grandfather and other members of my family were killed
during that time. This history and aftermath of the genocide in Burundi and
Rwanda caused me to look at a Hutu man as one without a heart capable to murder
or rape a Tutsi without remorse. Even at home my mother used to say openly
about our history and that my grandfather died in 1997, killed by Hutus.
Despite all this, my mother never stopped us from interacting with Hutu
families whether at school or in the neighborhood. The time was not yet ripe to
discuss the topic because we were still young and unaware of the extent of
inter-ethnic issue.
because my beloved grandfather and other members of my family were killed
during that time. This history and aftermath of the genocide in Burundi and
Rwanda caused me to look at a Hutu man as one without a heart capable to murder
or rape a Tutsi without remorse. Even at home my mother used to say openly
about our history and that my grandfather died in 1997, killed by Hutus.
Despite all this, my mother never stopped us from interacting with Hutu
families whether at school or in the neighborhood. The time was not yet ripe to
discuss the topic because we were still young and unaware of the extent of
inter-ethnic issue.
Around the age of twelve, I joined a Catholic high school
and with the time I acquired a habit of observing my classmates to determine
whether he was Hutu or Tutsi. Starting from the foot to the head, I quickly
learned how to distinguish a Hutu from a Tutsi by their nose, the tip of their
feet and their approaches. Although I was very curious, I hated being asked
where I was from and I was not ready to make a distinction of the ethnic group
when choosing my friends.
and with the time I acquired a habit of observing my classmates to determine
whether he was Hutu or Tutsi. Starting from the foot to the head, I quickly
learned how to distinguish a Hutu from a Tutsi by their nose, the tip of their
feet and their approaches. Although I was very curious, I hated being asked
where I was from and I was not ready to make a distinction of the ethnic group
when choosing my friends.
Presumably the perception that I had of the Hutus that I
knew was told from the history of the Burundi and Rwandan genocide and the
memories of those who killed my beloved grandfather.
knew was told from the history of the Burundi and Rwandan genocide and the
memories of those who killed my beloved grandfather.
But later I have come to discover that it is not
ethnicity,Hutu – Tutsi, that was bad but it was what lies in the heart of man. Without any idea of what was going on, I had left behind me ethnic problems. My belief
was that the mass killings of Tutsis in 1993 were behind us although it was
still raising anger within the family.
ethnicity,Hutu – Tutsi, that was bad but it was what lies in the heart of man. Without any idea of what was going on, I had left behind me ethnic problems. My belief
was that the mass killings of Tutsis in 1993 were behind us although it was
still raising anger within the family.
In 2005, the Arusha accord came as the Messiah came to
save his people who struggled in Egypt. As people of Burundi, we embarked on a
new page in the history of our country and create a new destiny with hope for
all people whether Hutu or Tutsi. President Pierre Nkurunziza was took power
and Burundi started walking towards a future full of good things. The joy of
being able to forget our trauma and phobia of death brought great hope.
save his people who struggled in Egypt. As people of Burundi, we embarked on a
new page in the history of our country and create a new destiny with hope for
all people whether Hutu or Tutsi. President Pierre Nkurunziza was took power
and Burundi started walking towards a future full of good things. The joy of
being able to forget our trauma and phobia of death brought great hope.
Again here we are in 2015. I am now twenty two years (22)
old and history is repeating itself in my country, Burundi. Since April25th,
when the incumbent, President Nkurunziza, was declared as Presidential
candidate of the ruling party, the country and all Bujumbura trembled with
fear. The news filled me with fear because a bumper month before, a Hutu friend
entrusted me to be afraid of what the Government was preparing.
old and history is repeating itself in my country, Burundi. Since April25th,
when the incumbent, President Nkurunziza, was declared as Presidential
candidate of the ruling party, the country and all Bujumbura trembled with
fear. The news filled me with fear because a bumper month before, a Hutu friend
entrusted me to be afraid of what the Government was preparing.
I felt desperate by imagining everything that could
happen to me and my family. He argued that what he saw reminded him of the Havyarimana’s
Governement (Rwanda in 1994). He tried to reassure me and gave me hope that
everything will be fine. But I was not so sure.
happen to me and my family. He argued that what he saw reminded him of the Havyarimana’s
Governement (Rwanda in 1994). He tried to reassure me and gave me hope that
everything will be fine. But I was not so sure.
On April 26, young people went in the streets to protest
against the third term of Pierre Nkurunziza. Unfortunately Jean Nepomucene
KOMEZAMAHORO, 15 years old, was killed by a Policeman who shot a bullet in his head.
This new horrible incidence just came to confirm what I feared.
against the third term of Pierre Nkurunziza. Unfortunately Jean Nepomucene
KOMEZAMAHORO, 15 years old, was killed by a Policeman who shot a bullet in his head.
This new horrible incidence just came to confirm what I feared.
The same night in the same neighborhood in which Nepo was
killed (Cibitoke), Imbonerakure in the Uniform of the Burundian Police
massacred the people in their homes. From our side in our neighborhood we were
terrified. We spent the night sitting in the living room. My memory was passing
and I wondered how I was going to die without knowing the cause of what was
happening.
killed (Cibitoke), Imbonerakure in the Uniform of the Burundian Police
massacred the people in their homes. From our side in our neighborhood we were
terrified. We spent the night sitting in the living room. My memory was passing
and I wondered how I was going to die without knowing the cause of what was
happening.
I left Burundi to continue my work and I knew that if I
stayed home, one day I’ll end up being arrested by these militiamen. But the
most painful was to leave my family and let them suffer.
stayed home, one day I’ll end up being arrested by these militiamen. But the
most painful was to leave my family and let them suffer.
The protests failed and President Nkurunziza won the
election. He started a blinding crackdown on neighborhoods that had challenged
his pursue for power. He openly declared in his speech after the famous coup of
May 13ththat these neighborhoods were Tutsi majority. And since that
day, his militia went in those neighborhoods to kill people without cause.
election. He started a blinding crackdown on neighborhoods that had challenged
his pursue for power. He openly declared in his speech after the famous coup of
May 13ththat these neighborhoods were Tutsi majority. And since that
day, his militia went in those neighborhoods to kill people without cause.
Why cannot we be worthy to live even if we are Tutsi and
we dared to say what we feel? These acts committed by the government in power
each day, feed resentment in the hearts of people who have lost their own
families. Even me sometimes it makes me want to rebel and again I am tempted to
hate the Hutus. But I place my trust in God and pull myself together always
telling myself that though I may lose my family one after the other, hatred has
no place in my heart.
we dared to say what we feel? These acts committed by the government in power
each day, feed resentment in the hearts of people who have lost their own
families. Even me sometimes it makes me want to rebel and again I am tempted to
hate the Hutus. But I place my trust in God and pull myself together always
telling myself that though I may lose my family one after the other, hatred has
no place in my heart.
With my wounded heart, I am appealing to the
international community that what happened in Rwanda in 1994 would happen if
nothing is done.
international community that what happened in Rwanda in 1994 would happen if
nothing is done.
Today, November 2015 in Burundi, people are being killed
because they are opposed to the oppressive power or because of their
ethnicity.The Burundian government is waving the ethnic card to commit a
massacre against the Tutsi and all other people that will not support them. They
are morally killing using speeches that are divisive in order to insight ethnic
killings. Many young men are hunted, killed, tortured and imprisoned; girls are
raped and all in all impunity.
because they are opposed to the oppressive power or because of their
ethnicity.The Burundian government is waving the ethnic card to commit a
massacre against the Tutsi and all other people that will not support them. They
are morally killing using speeches that are divisive in order to insight ethnic
killings. Many young men are hunted, killed, tortured and imprisoned; girls are
raped and all in all impunity.
As I am speaking, almost 300persons have been killed
since April 2015. The number of refugees going to the neighboring countries is
still increasing in thousands. I have seen images of mutilated people and
others left to die without any protection.
since April 2015. The number of refugees going to the neighboring countries is
still increasing in thousands. I have seen images of mutilated people and
others left to die without any protection.
I launch a cry for the international community to
intervene. Burundi is plunging little by little in an alarming situation.
Burundians of are tired of words by the international community. All they want
is action to save the lives of many innocent people.
intervene. Burundi is plunging little by little in an alarming situation.
Burundians of are tired of words by the international community. All they want
is action to save the lives of many innocent people.
It is time to end with those labels of ethnicity because
they are just there to divide us;
they are just there to divide us;
It is time to stop those massive killings;
It is time to stop President Nkurunziza and his
government from committing atrocities;
government from committing atrocities;
It is time for the International Community to act.
I see every day the suffering and despair of the third term’s
survivor through their eyes. That makes me realize that this suffering is
common to all Burundians despite their different ethnical origin.
survivor through their eyes. That makes me realize that this suffering is
common to all Burundians despite their different ethnical origin.
I am carrying with me incurable wounds like many Burundians.
But I still have the faith that one day, with God’s help; we will forget these injuries,
heal and build our beloved Country. Our little brothers and sisters deserve to
leave peacefully. As a young Burundian, my generation wants to leave behind this
burden of ethnicity and see each other as one people and one nation of God’s
people.
But I still have the faith that one day, with God’s help; we will forget these injuries,
heal and build our beloved Country. Our little brothers and sisters deserve to
leave peacefully. As a young Burundian, my generation wants to leave behind this
burden of ethnicity and see each other as one people and one nation of God’s
people.
By A Young
Burundian
Burundian
