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PIERRE NKURUNZIZA
Heads the FDD former rebels
Former school teacher
Born-again Christian
Sentenced to death in 1998
Amnesty under peace deal
I seriously hope that the coming to power of a born-again christian
(Evangelical) in Burundi does not mean we are going to witness a PAT
ROBERTSON-TYPE of religious demagoguery holding sway in that country.
The world is simply tired of seeing heads of state who claim to rule by
divine mandate!
----- Original Message -----
From: PETER W VAKUNTA <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, August 26, 2005 8:17 pm
Subject: TURN OF POLITICAL EVENTS IN BURUNDI
> ** Please visit our website: http://www.africanassociation.org **
>
> Ex-rebel becomes Burundi leader
>
> President Pierre Nkurunziza held aloft the stick which symbolises
> leadership in Burundi
> Former Burundi rebel leader Pierre Nkurunziza has been sworn in as
> president, marking the end of 12 years of war which has left 300,000
> dead.
> He becomes the first leader chosen through democratic means since
> 1993.
> It marks the end of a five-year peace process designed to end the
> conflict between Hutu rebels and an army led by the Tutsi minority.
>
> Power will be shared under the peace deal with Tutsis guaranteed a
> share of power and government jobs.
>
> "I pledge to fight all ideology and acts of genocide and
> exclusion, to
> promote and defend the individual and collective rights and
> freedoms of
> persons and of the citizen," he said in the Kirundi language in a
> ceremony attended by several African heads of state.
>
> In a short speech, he promised that primary school education would be
> free when the new term starts in September.
>
> 'Battle won'
>
> Outgoing President Domitien Ndayizeye said this was "the most
> importantday in Burundi's history."
>
> His Frodebu party was defeated in local and parliamentary elections
> earlier this year by Mr Nkurunziza's Forces for the Defence of
> Democracy, before MPs elected the ex-rebel as president last week.
>
> PIERRE NKURUNZIZA
> Heads the FDD former rebels
> Former school teacher
> Born-again Christian
> Sentenced to death in 1998
> Amnesty under peace deal
>
>
> Full profile
> Have Your Say
> "We have won the battle," said Mr Ndayizeye.
>
> The BBC's Rob Walker in the capital, Bujumbura, says Mr Nkurunziza's
> journey to power has been an extraordinary one - from school
> teacher to
> rebel leader and now finally, to president.
>
> He has said his first task will be to try and engage the last
> remainingrebel group, the National Liberation Forces (FNL) in
> peace talks.
>
> "I hope he will bring back peace quickly and help us overcome
> poverty,"said Fatuma Siniremera, a 56-year-old Nkurunziza
> supporter during a
> rally on Thursday.
>
> But some Tutsis remain fearful of Hutu rule.
>
> "I am very pessimistic about whether he will change anything,"
> Dieudonne Hakizimana said.
>
> Huge expectations
>
> The power-sharing deal agreed and now finally implemented is seen
> as a
> crucial success for the continent and one which could have wider
> benefits for the volatile Great Lakes region.
>
> Our correspondent says Mr Nkurunziza takes control of a country which
> is virtually destroyed but which has huge expectations of his ruling
> party.
>
>
> Burundians hope this marks a new era of peace
> He says the new leader will need all the support he can get from the
> international community if he is now to deliver on the much-needed
> dividends of peace.
>
> But the challenge ahead is not just physical.
>
> Deep divisions from the civil war remain and many believe those will
> only be healed if the new government deals with the issue of justice
> for crimes committed by all sides.
>
> On the eve of his inauguration, six mainly Tutsi parties said Mr
> Nkurunziza should be brought to justice for crimes they say he
> committed as a guerrilla leader during the civil war.
>
> A Burundian court passed the death sentence on Mr Nkurunziza in 1998,
> but he was granted an amnesty in the peace accords.
>
> No elected government has ever served out its term in Burundi.
>
>
>
> E-mail this to a friend Printable version
>
>
>
>
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>
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>
> BBC NEWS:VIDEO AND AUDIO
> The challenges ahead for new president Pierre Nkurunziza
>
>
>
>
> SEE ALSO:
> Burundi's born-again ex-rebel leader
> 19 Aug 05 | Africa
> How Burundi's rebels rose to power
> 08 Jul 05 | Africa
> Tutsi party accepts Burundi poll
> 07 Jul 05 | Africa
> Burundi rebels say sorry for war
> 07 Dec 03 | Africa
> Timeline: Burundi
> 05 Jul 05 | Country profiles
> Country profile: Burundi
> 26 Feb 04 | Country profiles
>
>
>
> RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
> UN news about Burundi
> UN Operation in Burundi
> The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
>
>
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