Zebiya, FNL, Mashitsi mass graves: 1751 victims, and more
The Briefing Issue #58, Sunday, March 15, 2020
Dear Readers,
This weekend regional media shared information about Covid-19 new cases in Rwanda, Kenya, and DRCongo. Now due to the outbreak and rapid spread of the Novel Coronavirus #Covid_19 the East African Community announced that it has postponed the 21st EAC Summit and suspended all meetings and activities of EAC that require large gatherings until further notice.
In Burundi from March 12 to 13, all the provincial doctors and district heads of the health systems were in a briefing session on COVID-19 that aimed to provide participants with a common understanding of the preparation and management of a potential COVID-19 pandemic.
The WHO Representative in Burundi reassures; as Burundi was rather ahead in the preparation against the Ebola Virus Disease, it already has certain achievements which allow the country to be a little more prepared for another public health emergency like the new coronavirus. "WHO will continue to support the country so that it can prepare itself better and better. "He declares.
READ ALSO
Kenya: National Emergency Response Committee on COVID19
COVID19: a second case in the DRC, the announced measures are struggling to reassure
Coronavirus: Rwanda confirms the first case of COVID-19
In the headlines
BANCOBU Shareholders held their Meeting on Friday, March 13, 2020, at the Hotel PANORAMIQUE to analyze the report of the Board of Directors for the 2019 financial year. The Board validated the closing of the bank's 60th financial year and confirmed the solidity of the portfolio and the constitution of BIF reserves to the tune of 36.7 billion. Among results, market shares for loans (29%), deposits (25%), total assets (31%) and net profit (44%), 43.0% for return on equity (ROE) and 5.4% for return on assets (ROA).
The provincial government of North Kivu is planing to repatriate 1,387 Burundians (216 men, 695 women 476 children) found in Goma this Saturday, March 14th claiming "to be looking for political asylum". According to the Congolese authorities, these Burundians are actually followers of the prophetess Zebiya who failed to settle in 2017 in Kamanyola in South Kivu and who, this time, disguise themselves as pilgrims to find refuge in North Kivu.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Total results Excavation of the 4 Mashitsi mass graves (Giheta-Gitega) on Saturday 14/03/2020: 1751 remains of the victims.
2020 Elections
This Saturday, March 14, the FNL(Front National pour la Libération) party held 1 extraordinary conference in Gitega, at the IWACU CENTER hotel. After consultations, they announced that they decided to withdraw the complaint filed with the Constitutional Court on the rejection of Jacques Bigirimana Candidacy. In a statement, they called FNL party members(ABANAMARIMWE) to vote for CNDD-FDD candidate General-Major Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE, characterized by clairvoyance and wisdom. “He is opposed to injustice and squandering the country's wealth,” reads the statement.
Event
Burundian artist Eden Banga, known for her song Ijambo, is the 7th winner of the Isanganiro Award organized by Radio Isanganiro. She received this Saturday her trophy, a guitar, an envelope, and a promotion that will last all year long at Radio Isanganiro.
What to expect this week
This week we hope to get updates about the status of the quarantined people at Hotel source du Nil.
We may get the Constitutional Court’s decision on the appeal made by rejected presidential candidates
After Israel's Institute for Biological Research significant breakthroughs in understanding the Covad-19, this week we may learn more about the development towards the evolution of the announced Covid-19 vaccine
International Events
20 March
International Day of Happiness (A/RES/66/281)
French Language Day (French)
21 March
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (A/RES/2142 (XXI))
World Poetry Day (UNESCO 30 C/Resolution 29)
International Day of Nowruz (A/RES/64/253)
World Down Syndrome Day (A/RES/66/149)
International Day of Forests (A/RES/67/200)
22 March
World Water Day (A/RES/47/193)
—-
RegionWeek is a Burundi-based media for a new generation of achievers in Africa, a platform devoted to chronicling the journey to Freedom and Empowerment.