Nkurunziza will be judged by his deeds: Equitable solution, return of refugees

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Leaders in the Great Lakes Region are waiting for the next move from Burundi president Pierre Nkurunziza, how he is going to handle the sentiments around the failed uprising and coup attempt against his regime, and how he will respond to democratic demands.

While no resolutions have as yet been made by relevant organizations at the regional and international level, expectations are generally that a thaw should start in the country.

What is needed is an inclusive dispensation that allays fears, to enable thousands of refugees to return to their homes.

We should not prejudge the capacity of the Burundi leader, who has just failed a basic examination of respecting constitutional provisions of limits of mandates, to provide a platform for just solution to the crisis in that country, even if we have to admit he will be part of that solution.
Only if he fails in that endeavor, or does not take it up, shall be properly become the problem, since he occasioned the matter by seeking a third term, and can only solve it by an act of sharing power with those who wanted him out of the way. It is the minimum he can do now.

The last meeting of Heads of State of the East African Community as well as an assortment of representatives of international organizations and companions of the EAC leaders, like the presence of South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, basically gave the benefit of doubt to the Burundi president.

They resolved that a coup d’etat was not the way to solve things in Burundi, which is true only up to an extent, as a coup is good if it is led by people having the interests of the masses at heart. Many people see in coups little but warlords, capturing the state.

With the defeat of the popular uprising in Burundi, that is, a week or two of mass anti-third term demonstrations, intervention by a section of the military and defeat of that action by the main body of the military and militias of the ruling party, all the principal cards are in the hands of the president.

He can make the transition succeed if he takes his victory with the humility he has so far failed to show, since he now has proof how disenchanted people are with his rule. If he gloats in victory, start dispensing the justice of the victor, he will surely be on his way to The Hague.

This is what some far sighted observers in the country, including University of Dar es Salaam human rights and international law expert, Prof Chris Maina Peter, who has stated bluntly that the Burundi president, by forcing a third term and bringing his country to chaos, if bent to go to The Hague.

That site of international justice has so far a number of glittering representatives from the Great Lakes Region, some of them either known to President Nkurunziza or were his personal friends at some point, namely Bosco Ntaganda, Laurent Nkunda or Jean-Pierre Bemba. No one will be surprised that restive East Africa adds another warlord to that number, this year.

Obviously our hopes and prayers for the people of Burundi is that all goes well, and that wisdom prevails for an equitable solution enabling civic leaders and political groups to rally around, give enough assurance for those in refugee camps and exiles in neighbouring countries to pack their things and go back home.

If Nkurunziza decides not to share power, he may soon find his wishes respected in a different situation that he will not have to share a room in a detention facility when transferred to face justice, for violating the constitution and placing a nation in hell zone.

SOURCE: GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY