As of now, Pierre Nkuruziza is the man who must champion a fractionalized kingdom posing as a democracy, which is what I think Burundi really is. This is a situation the man himself can be held responsible for. Nkuruziza's declaration of a third term bid, recognized as unconstitutional in May of this year had sparked nationwide protests, followed by an attempt to oust the President from power. While the leaders of the failed coup attempt were being prosecuted, the President went ahead to contest in an election many of the opposition leaders boycotted. Between May and July this year, resulting from clashes between Nkuruziza loyalists and his opponents, dozens have been killed and about 175, 000 of the nation's citizens forced to take up refugee status in neighbouring countries. Friday July 24th 2015, Nkuruziza has emerged as the winner of the Presidential elections, neatly beating his rivals. We can forward him congratulatory messages, can we not?
Seeing the huge opposition his ambition to continue the sojourn in the palace has drawn, including the death and displacement of many his subjects, a well meaning leader would have humbly stepped down. Do you not think so? But power intoxicates. Anyone who has tasted something that even remotely resembles it, will attest to that (there are few Nelson Mandelas in the world). There might be more to this though. Burundi is a country wracked by problems of ethnic disunity. Since independence there has been tensions between the majority Hutu and Minority Tutsi ethnic groups. The President himself had been a Hutu rebel chief who fought against the Tutsi dominated army during the country's Civil War (1993-2005).
Imagine a king, gleeful after he has successfully suppressed some rebellion in his domain, even though in taming the movement, a lot more than lives and property had been lost. The end and not the means count in the game of power, they say. And that is all it is about, a game men play. Should not leadership be a lot more than that? What is your take? Burundi is one of the poorest countries in Africa, still hurting from the cost of its Civil War. Let us hope that this situation does not precipitate another.
Seeing the huge opposition his ambition to continue the sojourn in the palace has drawn, including the death and displacement of many his subjects, a well meaning leader would have humbly stepped down. Do you not think so? But power intoxicates. Anyone who has tasted something that even remotely resembles it, will attest to that (there are few Nelson Mandelas in the world). There might be more to this though. Burundi is a country wracked by problems of ethnic disunity. Since independence there has been tensions between the majority Hutu and Minority Tutsi ethnic groups. The President himself had been a Hutu rebel chief who fought against the Tutsi dominated army during the country's Civil War (1993-2005).
Imagine a king, gleeful after he has successfully suppressed some rebellion in his domain, even though in taming the movement, a lot more than lives and property had been lost. The end and not the means count in the game of power, they say. And that is all it is about, a game men play. Should not leadership be a lot more than that? What is your take? Burundi is one of the poorest countries in Africa, still hurting from the cost of its Civil War. Let us hope that this situation does not precipitate another.
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