Burundi: Agathon Rwasa's CNL Party celebrates 2nd Anniversary, reminds hundreds of its activists in Prison
RegionWeek Newsletter Vol IV, Issue #162 | Monday, February 15, 2021
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Let us start this week briefing series with politics, on Sunday, February 14, 2021, the CNL party (National Congress for Freedom ) celebrated its second anniversary in Bujumbura. The representatives of the home affairs ministry, diplomats, representatives of political parties responded to the CNL party's invitation.
In his keynote speech, the secretary-general of the CNL party, Agathon RWASA highlighted the key challenges that the CNL party has faced so far. Among which arbitrary imprisonment, moral and physical torture of its activists, and over 100 CNL offices vandalized.
He insisted on the fact that “those who misinterpret democratic governance fail to apply governance based on respect for the law”.
He reported the abuse of power by certain administrators from the ruling party, citing CNL Militants who were killed, others that are reported missing till this day. He called for the release of prisoners for CNL activists and especially those who have been acquitted or have served their sentences.
Agathon Rwasa recalled that the year 2020 was characterized by the elections where the Burundians showed a strong desire for change, a desire to enjoy real freedom by massively voting the CNL.
On the occasion of the second anniversary, Agathon RWASA asks Burundi top Leaders to conduct the affairs of the country for the good of all, to unlock the political space, to punish those responsible for barbaric acts committed against CNL activists.
He insisted that recruitment for the public service should be on the basis of merit and competence and not for political activism. He called the government to remove all obstacles which infringe upon the development of the private sector.
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In February 2019, the government allowed Agathon Rwasa’s opposition party, the National Congress for Freedom (CNL), formerly the National Forces of Liberation (FNL), to register.
Agathon Rwasa was a presidential candidate for the CNL party, he filled a petition against the election results at the constitutional court in Bujumbura, May 28, 2020.
After Ndayishimiye was declared the winner, Rwasa said the results were fraudulent and vowed to take his case to the Constitutional Court and to the East African Community court of law. But he later retracted saying, the CNL party will respect what the law says.
Rwasa Agathon, a former rebel movement leader, once called FNL PALIPEHUTU, has been considered by some in the Burundi government to be a ‘staunch opponent of the Burundi government’. Rwasa Agathon is now an MP. Agathon did not depart from his course of speaking against some ‘irregularities in the Burundi government.
Thanks for reading!
Fabrice Iranzi, RegionWeek.com
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