Cautious relief as Nkurunziza says he’ll step down at end of term in 2020

What you need to know:

  • Had Nkurunziza chosen that route, it would have become possible for him to remain in power until 2034.

  • Nkurunziza  would have been in the same league as the likes of Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and  Cameroon’s Paul Biya, who have chosen to pursue multiple terms.

  • In Burundi, opposition parties say the new constitution could put paid to the gains that followed the signing in 2000 of a peace agreement in Arusha, Tanzania. 

In a move that confounded many, Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza announced on Thursday that he will step down in 2020 after completing his term.

The announcement came when the world is just about fed up with the phenomenon of African leaders tinkering with constitutions to extend their terms in office.

Ironically, Nkurunziza made the announcement shortly after signing into law a constitution that is widely viewed as designed to enable him remain in power.

Going by the document, which was also enacted on Thursday, the coast was patently clear for Nkurunziza, allowing him to seek two seven-year terms from 2020.

Had Nkurunziza chosen that route, it would have become possible for him to remain in power until 2034.

PURSUE MILTIPLE TERMS

Nkurunziza  would have been in the same league as the likes of Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and  Cameroon’s Paul Biya, who have chosen to pursue multiple terms.

The developments in Burundi came just days after Madagascar’s President Hery Rajaonarimampianina named Christian Ntsay the new prime minister.

He is the fourth premier since Rajaonarimampianina’s inauguration on January 25, 2014. Ntsay had been the International Labour Organisation representative to Madagascar, Comoros, Mauritius and Seychelles since 2008.

The Monday announcement came after the resignation of Olivier Mahafaly Solonandrasana on the same day following a May 25 constitutional court order.

The court ruled that the prime minister and the government had to leave office by June 5 at the latest, and that a new premier should be nominated by June 12.

The ruling helped lower political temperatures in the country, which is expected to hold a General Election this year.

CREDIBLE ELECTION

Ntsay is to ensure the election is credible.

In the meantime, Tuesday saw the Ethiopian Parliament approve a bill to end the a state of emergency declared in February.

The emergency rule followed the resignation of PM Hailemariam Desalegn after months of protests, and was lifted two months earlier than planned.

On the same Tuesday, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s ruling coalition announced that Ethiopia would fully implement a long-ignored peace deal meant to end war with Eritrea.

Ahmed said ending the war was critical for the stability and development of the Horn of Africa, and would pave the way for the expansion of economic ties with Eritrea. 

In Burundi, opposition parties say the new constitution could put paid to the gains that followed the signing in 2000 of a peace agreement in Arusha, Tanzania. 

CIVIL WAR

The deal paved the way for the end of the 1993-2006 civil war that claimed 300,000 lives.

It was also the new-found peace that resulted in the eventual coming to power of Nkurunziza in 2005, on the understanding that he would rule for two terms.

The former rebel leader, however, roiled the already murky political waters when he decided to seek a third term in 2015. That decision led to bloodshed.

Poignantly, even if Nkurunziza vacates office in 2020, there is a possibility of his gunning for the presidency in future. There are also stipulations that make it possible to ban coalitions of independent politicians, while mandating the Senate to review the system of ethnic quotas in key political positions.

As matters stand, Burundi is yet to heal, with opposition figures and journalists fleeing to exile.