The U.S. States warns Nkurunziza not to seek a third term

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President Barack Obama—Photo by Joseph Earnest

by Joseph Earnest May 18, 2015

Newscast Media VIRGINIA BEACH—The United States has sent a stern warning to Burundi President Nkurunziza advising him to give up his ambitions of running for a third term, and also warned him not to retaliate against coup masterminds like Major General Godefroid Niyombare, and the opposition movement.

When Nkurunziza made it back to Burundi, the whole world was waiting for him to announce he was stepping down, and would not seek a third term for the presidency—just like Congo's Joseph Kabila announced, to avert further violence in his country.

Instead, Nkurunziza's mistake is that he is taking faulty advice from his neighboring fellow presidents, who are encouraging him to deal with protesters with a heavy hand, and to ignore or violate the Burundian Constitution, by running for president beyond the limits allowed by the Constitution of his country.

Without mincing words, the State Department said, "The United States urgently calls on President Nkurunziza to condemn and stop the use of violence by the police and the ruling party’s Imbonerakure youth militias against those who participated in protests against a third term. The United States strongly condemns all acts of violence and retribution against those who have participated in protests against a third term. Individuals who perpetrate or incite violence, or exact retribution against those who oppose a third term, should be held accountable."

In regard to discouraging Nkurunziza from running for president the third time, the United States is vehemently opposed to such an undertaking.

"The United States also believes the Arusha Agreement that ended Burundi’s horrific civil war must remain the foundation for the country’s stability and post-war reconciliation. The decision by Burundian President Nkurunziza to disregard the Arusha Agreement to run for a third term also has created instability and violence," the State Department said.

For so long, African presidents who wanted to remain relevant to the West have been playing a head game by sending troops into Somalia and also into Central Africa hoping the United States will continue to support their oppressive regimes.

However, Nkurunziza is quickly finding out that his head games are being rejected.

"The United States is taking steps to impose visa ineligibilities on those responsible for violence. We call on all other governments to do the same. The United States also stresses that, under U.S. law, we cannot provide military training or assistance to military units that commit gross violations of human rights. We support the recent decision by the African Union to delay the next deployment of Burundian troops to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), and note that continued instability and violence in Burundi, and in particular the commission of human rights abuses by security forces, could jeopardize Burundi’s ability to continue to contribute to the AMISOM peacekeeping mission."

As proof that the United States will always take sides with the citizenry when they rise up and embark on an undertaking to free themselves from an oppressive regime, the US State Department concluded by saying, "The United States welcomes decisions by other donor partners to reduce or withdraw budget support and financial assistance to the Government of Burundi in response to the continuing instability and violence...We stand with the people of Burundi at this critical moment. We urgently call on the Burundian government to demonstrate, by its actions in the coming days, its commitment to a peaceful future for all the people of Burundi."

Since Nkurunziza has now received an open rebuke, should any more demonstrators or freedom fighters die under his watch, one can be certain that he will be directly held accountable for those deaths, or human rights violations.

Pierre Nkurunziza should now hang up his gloves and realize it is over for him.

President Barack Obama has shown true leadership, and Burundians are delightfully embracing it, as they continue to embark on their inherent right to pursue freedom from the oppressive hand of their government. The entire statement by the U.S. State Department against Burundi's Nkurunziza can be read here. (pop-up)

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