Declaration of the Alliance of Burundians of Canada, ABC
Clearly, the bloody events of 2015 have not served as a lesson. The figures on the massacres of young protesters carried out by police forces and Imbonerakure (more than two thousand dead), forced disappearances, mass exodus into exile (over four hundred thousand refugees), internal displacement, and political prisoners (around six thousand) have left the world in shock, leading to an international investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Seeking to remain in power indefinitely, the de facto president, Nkurunziza, aims to permanently bury the Arusha Peace Accords—the foundation of the fragile peace the country had regained—and is working to create a constitution tailored to his image. Furthermore, the de facto government divides the people by exploiting past ethnic divisions—the same divisions it once claimed to be fighting against while in the bush. For the CNDD-FDD, Burundians are no longer allowed to consider themselves as one people with equal rights and duties under the fundamental law. Instead, the government seeks to confine them to ethnic ghettos, pitting them against each other in a controlled power dynamic that favors one selected ethnic group while marginalizing and dehumanizing another, rendering it perpetually vulnerable.
Thus, the United Nations (UN) fears potential unrest and escalating political tensions with the constitutional revision. Meanwhile, the population dreads yet another step toward the abyss. Ruling party officials no longer hide their threats, openly calling on a stunned population to “aim for the head with a hammer and tie up” anyone opposing the referendum. Is this not the same leader who set the example by threatening members of his own party who did not support him, telling them they would end up in paradise?
The country is at a standstill. Every initiative by the international community to establish a minimum level of common ground through dialogue between the Bujumbura regime and the opposition—especially those not under the ruling party’s control—has failed. The situation is further exacerbated by the following alarming developments, which reveal an explosive crisis fueled by an ideology of exclusion and unchecked radicalism in the pursuit of a dictatorial and divisive culture:
- Extreme impoverishment of the population due to all efforts being channeled into political and propaganda activities, while authorities engage in rampant corruption, with no vision for sustainable development—a hallmark of the regime in place since 2005.
- A climate of terror and a recurring discourse of hatred and exclusion, directly contradicting the spirit of the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement (2010–present).
- The excessive politicization and indoctrination of defense and security forces to prepare them for unspeakable acts (the 2015 massacres and ongoing violence).
- The blatant disregard for the Constitution to grant the regime an illegal and illegitimate mandate, ignoring all calls for reason and responsibility (April 2015).
- The ruthless repression of peaceful protests, resulting in thousands of deaths, disappearances, exiles, and arbitrary imprisonments (2015).
- Frequent, state-orchestrated demonstrations aimed at blaming the opposition and the international community while instilling hatred and exclusion toward dissenting voices (2015–present).
- A constitutional revision project set for a referendum in May 2018, without prior political consensus. Many suspect that the outcome (manipulated voter rolls) has already been decided before the referendum even takes place. This explains why any potential mobilization for a “No” vote unsettles the regime, triggering an avalanche of hateful and inflammatory rhetoric from those in power.
In light of this dire situation, ABC demands the following:
To the Burundian Population:
- Reject all ideologies of hatred and exclusion that undermine the very foundation of the nation.
- Oppose a biased justice system and instead demand a fair judicial system that does not protect criminals of any kind.
- Unite around the values of unity and reconciliation, refusing to be held hostage by divisive rhetoric that seeks to turn them into executioners of their fellow citizens.
To the International Community:
- Closely monitor the blatant abuses of power by the Bujumbura regime and come to the aid of a distressed population, upholding the responsibility to protect.
- Learn from history and avoid, through inaction, distraction, or neglect, allowing Burundi to descend into further chaos.
- Recognize that with the constitutional revision, the Burundian government is determined to permanently dismantle the Arusha Agreement. If nothing is done to stop this, restoring normalcy will become even more difficult, and any prospect of lasting peace will be completely unattainable.
- Take all necessary measures to prevent the burial of the Arusha Agreement, an accord for which the international community is the ultimate and legitimate guarantor.
Done in Ottawa on February 14, 2018
© The Alliance of Burundians of Canada, ABC