Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bujumbura (Agenzia Fides)- “It is difficult to establish the truth of events, prudence is necessary. However the situation in our country is not easy” a local Catholic source in Bujumbura, capital of Burundi told Fides, with regard to tensions in recent weeks which also involved the United Nations Organisation.
Yesterday 30 August it was announced that the government of Burundi asked the UN to withdraw the head of UN operations in Burundi (ONUB), Nurreldin Satti, accused of “non diplomatic” behaviour. A government spokesman said Sudan born Satti, was against the government of President Pierre Nkurunziza. “Our government and the UN have good relations. But his personal behaviour was incorrect”, the spokesman said. Satti is said to have arranged, without the necessary authority, a meeting for foreign diplomats to discuss a present investigation into a plan to overthrow the present government. In early August 7 people were arrested including former president Domitien Ndayizeye, suspected of organising a coup.
“We cannot express an opinion on the investigation because news is scarce and fragmentary” the church source told Fides. “However it is sad to see Burundi prey to political tensions once again because this distracts the government and the people from the real problems of the country, connected with development and poverty”.
Burundi is one of the poorest countries of Africa and 169th on the list of developed countries, a list compiled considering the national gross product and also services such as healthcare and school system..
“When the present government came to power it made many promises, perhaps too many, which it has been unable to keep. It is not to be excluded that this new tension may be an attempt to distract people’s attention from the real problems of our country” the source said. “Discussion with the UN can be seen in this light because the international community, the World Bank for example, in the face of lack of Burundian government initiatives, has cut promised funds. Corruption is one of the main problems and donors demand guarantees for the proper use of donated funds”.
“We hope good sense will prevail as the Bishops said in a recent meeting with the President, and they have encouraged people to remain calm. The President responded by appealing for calm in a radio address” the source concluded.
President Nkurunziza was elected a year ago to crown a peace process which ended 12 years of civil war in which 300,000 people were killed. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 31/8/2006 righe 41 parole 523)
