The week ahead: 5 things to watch if you have interests in Burundi
RegionWeek Newsletter Vol III, Issue #128 | Monday, October 11, 2020
This is a new version of the RegionWeek Newsletter for the 3rd season( July-December 2020). The content targets Business leaders, Decision-makers, and Young professionals with interests in Burundi and East Africa. Subscribe to stay productive, and competitive in a pandemic and disrupted season.
Happy Monday!
The absence of Burundi in last week’s mini-summit organized by the presidents of the DRC and Rwanda attended by Uganda and Angola president, confirmed the theory my team and I have shared on Burundi’s new Diplomacy calibration. But what is following more complex than we had imagined, we will keep you posted, but first here are five things to watch this week
Red Tabara militants “captured” by Rwanda
After a group of 19 armed militants of Red Tabara reportedly were captured on Rwandan territory and presented to regional experts from the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism, this week, news followers expect to see how Rwanda will handle Burundi’s request to handover the militants. For many commentators, this is unlikely to happen, especially when various UN Reports mentioned that Rwanda trains rebel movements against Burundi such as Red Tabara.
The reciprocity principle
In a briefing meeting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, told the diplomatic community in Burundi that if the sanctions imposed persist, Burundi “could resort, as a last resort, to the principle of reciprocity”. According to him, interests would be at stake for all parties. This week, the great question is to know what are the countries that will face the reciprocity principles and what kind of interest will be targeted. Meanwhile, Burundi said on Friday it had recalled its diplomats from more than a dozen countries, closing three of its embassies on the American and African continents.
Burundian Refugees in Uganda
Burundians refugees in Nakivale Camp recently wrote a letter to President Évariste Ndayishimiye, asking him to help them to be repatriated. Uganda is so far home to more than 48,000 Burundian refugees, including more than 40,000 living in Nakivale camp. This week we expect official statements from UNHCR and Burundi government about when these Burundians who wish to be repatriated will travel from Uganda to Burundi. Meanwhile, Burundian authorities have announced that everything is ready to welcome the Burundians coming from the Nakivale camp.
Coronavirus Post campaign initiatives
The Burundian government presented last an evaluation report about the three-month nationwide coronavirus screening campaign that started in July. 42,145 people have been tested, 514 have been found positive, 495 cases have been cured, 18 cases under treatment, and 1 case of death. This week’s News followers expect to know what is next in the fight against the coronavirus, like updates on new measures especially traveling, border, and airport reopening.
Commemoration of the 59th anniversary of the assassination of Prince Louis RWAGASORE, Hero of the Independence of Burundi.
Burundians commemorate on October 13 of each year, the assassination of the Hero of Burundi’s independence, Prince Louis Rwagasore, killed in 1961 at the Hotel Tanganyika in Bujumbura.
Members of the Government, Parliament, senior officers of the defense and security forces, diplomats accredited to Bujumbura, and the family of the Hero of Independence are expected to take part in these ceremonies.
Thanks for reading
Fabrice Iranzi, RegionWeek.com
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