Save Burundi from looming civil conflict

Burundi is fast sliding into a total political and economic collapse in the face of a looming civil conflict.

Fuelled by President Pierre Nkurunziza’s running for third term, the country’s situation is at a boiling point. There are all pointers to a potential civil conflict in the East Africa nation if the international community continues to talk rather than act.

There is a real and threatening political repression in Burundi resulting in rampant civilian killings by the police, assassination of opposition officials, careless incitement to tribal violence, increased number of armed vigilante groups in Bujumbura and arbitrary arrests of EAC nationals, especially those from Rwanda.

Visa restrictions against EU nationals have thrown the country’s tourism sector to its deathbed.

The economic crisis has seen the Burundi Central Bank stop any foreign currency withdrawals from the local banks as Burundi’s local currency deteriorates.

The Burundian government has curtailed the activities of civil society by withdrawing the licences of 10 non-profit organisations. The private media is no longer working in Burundi and citizens are left at the mercy of the biased national broadcaster.

Aid agencies, including Oxfam, have sounded alarm bells about the escalating humanitarian crisis that is fast getting out of control.

Clearly, the African Union, EAC, UN and the entire international community must walk the talk now. The urgency of the moment does not allow for empty threats to the perpetrators of violence in Burundi. The UN Security Council must move fast to stop the rampant civilian killings happening in Bujumbura.

The US sanctions against two Burundi security officials and two coup plotters are most welcome but still inadequate. Burundi needs the same attention and response accorded to terrorist attacks.