Briefing: The First Family effort to boost Tourism, the radical opposition introduces a new narrative and more
RegionWeek Newsletter Vol VI, Issue #198 | Friday, January 10th, 2022
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Dear RegionWeek Readers,
This weekend we saw heartwarming pictures, as the first family visited key tourist sites of Burundi. The Presidential Family tour aimed to promote domestic tourism continued on Saturday in Bururi and Rutana provinces at the southernmost source of the Nile located in Rutovu as well as the Karera Falls in Rutana
President Evariste Ndayishimiye indicated that the tourist tour he did is a patriotic approach that participates in the transmission of knowledge and cultural values in his family. In addition to the economic potential, domestic tourism is a good way to boost national pride.
During the tour, the President met many tourists and praised the beauty of Burundi, and called on local and foreign economic operators to invest massively in tourism, which is a sector with high potential and bearer of economic growth.
The catholic church calls on its members to accept the Truth in order to reach an effective reconciliation.
The Bishop of the Diocese of Bujumbura in his homily, Gervais Banshimiyubusa called on Burundians to accept the truth about various crises that happened in Burundi. Bishop Gervais said that the truth really hurts, but it is the only way to reach an effective reconciliation that leads to a strong justice.
“If we fail to accept the truth, we won’t be able to receive the justice,” he said
The Burundian Truth and Reconciliation Commission on December 20 described the massacres perpetrated against the Hutus in 1972 as genocide. While some historians welcome this statement, others fear political manipulation on the part of those in power.
"A crime of genocide was committed against the Hutu of Burundi in 1972-1973". This is the main announcement from the Burundi Truth and Reconciliation Commission (CVR), which presented its progress report to Parliament in Bujumbura on Monday, December 20.
In recent years, the CVR has had the heavy task of investigating the violence that has punctuated the country's history between 1885, the date of the Berlin Conference on the Partition of Africa, and 2008, after the end of the war. civil. She has focused so far on a key moment: 1972.
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An article in the French media outlet “Mediapart” introduces a new narrative by radical opposition on the precise nature of Franco-Burundian military cooperation worries
In a virulent article against the Burundian regime, Mediapart through a piece by Theo Englebert relaunches a debate on governance and cooperation by drawing inspiration from the narratives that fueled the radical opposition communication campaigns against late president Pierre Nkurunziza in 2015 and castigate the cooperation between France and Burundi.
The article notes that since 2018, Emmanuel Macron has relaunched French military cooperation with Bujumbura. It consists of training the Burundian army, as permitted by half-century-old bilateral agreements.
“The Élysée did not answer our questions about the reasons, scope, and precise nature of Franco-Burundian military cooperation. Also requested on this subject, the Quai d´Orsay affirms today that "France is careful to maintain its dialogue with the Burundian authorities in order to encourage the current political openness aimed at breaking the desire for isolation of the previous regime" report Mediapart
According to Senator Guillaume Gontard (Europe Écologie-Les Verts), vice-chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defense and Armed Forces Committee quoted by Mediapart, “ The subject of Burundi (Military Cooperation), beyond the question of its merits, points to a real lack of links with Parliament on this type of decisions around which the most complete opacity reigns. We often have very, very little information. Of course, there must be secrets, but Quai D'Orsay often hides behind them to make everything opaque. The only thing we have for information is a balance sheet, which therefore comes after the fact and which is more than very light. We have absolutely no details of the reasons for the decision.”
On the military side, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs speaks of “peacekeeping” training. A seemingly attractive term to designate military formations that could be used in very different contexts.
The Quai d'Orsay told Mediapart that military cooperation "results in the teaching of French in a military environment [French is one of the two official languages of Burundi, where it is widely spoken - note] as well as by the allocation of 28 places per year in French schools […] for Burundian officers intended for peacekeeping activities.”
Asked about the possibility that the Military training given by France could then be used by the Burundian military against their own compatriots, the Quai d'Orsay is content to ensure that "France remains vigilant in respecting the commitments made by the Burundian authorities ".
The bottom line
The Quai d'Orsay replying to Mediapart questions stated the lifting of sanctions within the Francophonie in November 2020, the withdrawal of Burundi from the agenda of the UN Security Council scheduled since December 2020, and the resumption of dialogue with the heads of mission of the European Union in February 2021, to justify the efforts to pursue its cooperation policy with Burundi.
The article by Mediapart introduces a new narrative supported by radical opposition against Gitega, where the author Theo Englebert believes that France indirectly provides assistance to the anti-Rwandan armed groups, and cites “the numerous incursions by the Burundian army assisted by the Imbonerakure militia on the territory of neighboring Congo”. According to radical opposition quoted by Mediapart, if France chooses the option of cooperating with Burundi, it supports a torturing regime that does not care about the well-being of its inhabitants.
Are the radical opposition activists trying to introduce a new narrative about Burundi’s cooperation initiatives? Wait and see.
Thanks for reading
Fabrice Iranzi, Editor in Chief | RegionWeek.com
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