Burundi, the smallest and poorest of the five East African countries, is on the chasm of chaos. Barely forty eight hours after President Pierre Nkurunziza launched his ‘re-election’ campaign, two demonstrators were executed and dozens injured by police. Their only crime was exercising their freedom of expression and their right to assemble and associate freely. If media reports are anything to go by, these killings are just the beginning of a fatal campaign period.

Nkurunziza’s unapologetic and seemingly violent bid for a third term is very disturbing. First, it smacks of the Big Man Syndrome, which ‘legitimises’ total disregard for the supremacy of the constitution. Second, Burundians who have witnessed genocide twice before, in 1972 and 1993, are so scared that thousands have already crossed over into neighbouring Rwanda where they are living in squalor. Third, those seeking refuge in Rwanda are majority Tutsis, an unfortunate reminder of the circumstances that led to the worst genocide in human history.

Dozens of Burundians and Rwandese in the US argue that it is just a matter of time before tension start rising between the two neighbours over the ethnic divide and the materially opposing ruling elite on either side of the border. Nkurunziza is an ethnic Hutu while his Rwandese counterpart Paul Kagame is a Tutsi. Both leaders have rebel backgrounds but their leadership styles are totally different. Burundians fear that Kagame may be compelled to intervene on behalf of his fellow Tutsis and in the process plunge the two countries into a conflict pitting Tutsis against Hutus. With memories of the 1994 genocide still fresh in the minds of many, leaders across the continent must do whatever they can to stop a repeat.

Elections are supposed to be an internal affair. However, the East African Community, or rather the East African region, is so inextricably intertwined that it would be irresponsible for regional leaders to let Burundi plunge into chaos under the guise of ‘respecting’ its sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is mainly because there is a big difference between meddling in the internal affairs of another country and acting responsibly to deter or even prevent crimes against humanity.

It will be remembered that almost a million people were killed while the international community debated whether or not to refer as genocide what was happening in Rwanda in 1994. Twenty one years later, the EAC has come of age and cannot afford to have this kind of debate. The community must act with the fierce urgency of now or live to blame itself for doing nothing.

Some may want to argue that countries like Kenya and Uganda are overstretched by the twin conflicts in Somalia and South Sudan. Unfortunately being a big brother comes with responsibilities. It would be in EAC’s best interest to stop Burundi from plunging into total chaos. Failure to act would inadvertently create a third banana republic in the region.

Even though Burundi does not have a lot of economic clout, its imminent collapse would cut off a sizeable market for East African enterprise. Kenya Airways for instance runs three tofour daily flights to and fro Bujumbura. Equity Bank and Kenya Commercial Bank are now operational in Burundi, with KCB competing with Standard Chartered and other international banks for the Burundian pie. The ports of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa serve as the gateway to this landlocked agro-economy. Rwanda literally rules the market in Burundi.

As a member state, Burundi is a signatory to the EAC Treaty and must be held accountable for breaching it. Article 6 (d) of the EAC Treaty requires member states to promote “good governance, including adherence to the principles of democracy, the rule of law, accountability, transparency, social justice, equal opportunities, gender equality, as well as the recognition, promotion and protection of human and people’s rights in accordance with the provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”

Nkurunziza and his government have breached various aspects of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights. It is therefore imperative for the EAC to invoke Article 143 of its own treaty, which spells out sanctions against members who do not fulfil their obligations.

Finally, EAC leaders must read the riot act to Nkurunziza. They must point out that his political interests are secondary to national and regional peace and stability. As his peers they must tell him they will intervene to save Burundi. The EAC’s failure to act decisively may force Rwanda to respond unilaterally. Such a move would probably attract the DRC, a rogue nation with vested interests in Burundi, and inflame an already fragile situation.

It is time we stop talking and walk the walk. African leaders have been talking too much about African solutions to African problems. This is your opportunity to show commitment to the talk and stop your peer Pierre Nkurunziza from plunging the smallest and poorest of

Source: The Star

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