Burundi's opposition leader sacked by party dissidents

BUJUMBURA, August 1, 2010

Burundi's opposition leader was sacked Sunday by government-backed dissidents in his party, two months after vanishing for fear of arrest during the country's troubled election process.

Agathon Rwasa's entourage described the National Liberation Forces (FNL) congress -- held in Bujumbura with the interior ministry's blessing -- as a mascarade involving a dissident regime-backed branch of the party.

Most of the 350 people who attended the congress were youths, according to an AFP correspondent.

"The FNL party lost a lot by pulling out of the electoral process... This congress has decided to fix such mistakes," said a declaration read at the close of the meeting.

Emmanuel Miburo, an adviser in Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza's office who recently left the FNL, was elected as the party's "new chairman".

Jacques Bigirimana, who was excluded from the FNL under Rwasa's leadership, was elected secretary general.

Rwasa's lieutenants were quick to dismiss the congress, which was the fifth attempt in as many years by government-backed FNL dissidents to remove the former rebel chief from his post.

"This is another mascarade orchestrated by the ruling CNDD-FDD, which wants to destroy our party... Agathon Rwasa is the FNL's boss and it will remain that way," party vice chairman Alfred Bagaya told AFP.

Rwasa, who had been seen as Nkurunziza's main rival in June presidential election, led an opposition boycott of Burundi's string of elections following the results of local polls in May he said had been rigged.

The dispute sparked government repression, prompting Rwasa to go into hiding. He released an audio tape to explain he feared for his life but his move raised fears he would emerge from the bush leading a re-formed rebellion.

Nkurunziza and his party have since then won presidential and parliamentary polls virtually unopposed, shattering hopes that Burundi's election marathon would seal past democratic efforts and a fledgling peace deal.