Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bujumbura (Fides Service)- “There is widespread discouragement with regard to the process of transition and this is a dangerous element, but it is important that the sides keep talking rather than having recourse to arms” a local church source in Bujumbura told Fides after yet another postponement of the referendum to approve the new Constitution (see Fides 15 December 2004). Officially the referendum was postponed because the period for the presentation of electoral lists had expired. In fact the lists should have been presented two weeks before the referendum scheduled for 22 December.
“Besides this technical reason, politicians are anxious to make some changes in the text of the Constitution,” the source told Fides. “One change could permit outgoing President Domitien Ndayizeye to stand again for presidency, something not allowed by the present constitution”. This possibility is firmly rejected by the Forces For Democracy FDD, former Tutsi rebel group which signed peace agreement and joined the interim government. FDD leaders say they are against any alterations in the Constitution before referendum.
“The chance that President Ndayizeye may present himself again as a candidate is not popular even among members of his own party, because he is well liked by the people and might beat the official party candidate” the sources told Fides. “Although President Ndayizeye is a Hutu he is popular with many members of the Tutsi minority”.
With regard to prospects for peace our source said: “the situation is difficult but not all is lost. Political groups insist there will be a referendum although the date has not been set because the political leaders want conditions to be right. The referendum should be held in January so as to keep to a programme which includes local elections in February and presidential elections in April. UN personnel helping Burundi to organise the elections say that once the referendum is underway the other elections can be held using the same logistic structures”.
Since 1993, Burundi has been in the grip of civil war between mainly Tutsi army troops and various Hutu rebels groups. So far at least 300,000 people have been killed. In 2000 a peace agreement signed in Arusha (Tanzania) established the formation of an interim government with the participation of most political parties but not guerrilla groups. It was agreed on 18 months of Tutsi president and Hutu vice-president and then vice versa. However only the agreement signed in Dar es Salaam in 2003, between the government and the FDD, opened real prospects for peace. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 16/12/2004 righe 44 parole 561)
