Burundi minister for East African Community Affairs, Leontine Nzeyimana
At the same time, the minister appealed to compatriots scattered in
refugee camps to voluntarily return home to build their nation assuring
them that there were no human atrocities as it has been widely
reported.
Nzeyimana accused the opposition groups and civil societies in
Burundi for fuelling violence and propagating the unrest that engulfed
the country when the embattled incumbent President, Pierre Nkurunziza,
announced in April last year his intention to seek extension of his
rule.
“Widespread claims that Burundi is facing a genocide are false and
unfounded, the opposition are to blame for propagating these claims ...
wherever they are our citizens should return to Burundi and build their
nation,” the minister appealed as she delivered her government’s
submissions before EALA's Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution
Committee (RACR).
According to the minister, President Nkurunziza legitimately ran
for the country's top most office as it was 'widely agreed' upon, urging
the opposition to refrain from fuelling chaos that has rendered the
country unstable.
"The opposition should stop their campaigns of instilling hatred
among Burundians which are meant to tarnish our country's image," she
said.
The minister singled out the presence of what she referred to as
terrorist groups stationed in the country's capital Bujumbura where they
have been waging attacks against the security forces.
The minister told the committee that her country was not in need of
foreign security and peacekeepers, saying the defence forces in the
country were up to the task of ensuring that peace and stability
prevailed.
“Our mission and vision have always been to ensure that we continue upholding peace and security in Burundi."
She appealed to the EALA committee to intervene and do away with
the agenda of suspending the country from the EAC membership as
suggested by the East African Civil Society Organisations’ Forum
(EACSOF) mid this month.
“Don't allow it to happen because the treaty on establishing the community is very clear,” the minister cautioned.
Meanwhile, the minister told the committee that Burundi was aware
of the presence of a group recruited, trained and financed by the
opposition parties to fuel violence in the country.
Earlier in the day, Former Burundi presidential candidate appealed
to EALA to reprimand Rwanda for its alleged role in fuelling political
violence in Burundi.
Jean de Dieu Mutabazi, who ran through the Rally for Democracy in
Burundi (RADEBU) in last year's disputed presidential election, told The
Guardian on the sidelines of the public hearing that Rwanda played a
key role in the escalating violence in Burundi.
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