"BURUNDI YES WE CAN"

Johnnie Carson

Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African AffairsTestimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health

Washington, DC

May 25, 2010

          Burundi

We are keeping a close eye on upcomingelections throughout the region. Burundi has just held the first offive separate elections for local and national level institutions. Thiselection marathon will continue through September 7, with importantpresidential elections on June 28 and national assembly elections onJuly 23.

Through our foreign assistance and public diplomacyprogramming, as well as our direct observation of the electoralprocess, we have regularly seized public and private opportunities toreinforce the message, across a broad political spectrum, that credibleelections and legitimate transfer of power are necessary for Burundi’slong-term stability and economic growth. Credible elections and apeaceful post-election transfer of power will also enable a broader anddeeper U.S.-Burundian partnership in the future.

Burundians andinternational observers alike are hopeful that all the elections willbe conducted in a free, fair, and peaceful manner. There is no armedrebellion. The last rebel group (the FNL) has demobilized, largelyintegrated into the security forces and government, and formed apolitical party. The political arena is diverse and open, withtwenty-three political parties competing in the first (communal level)elections on May 24; six of these parties are competing nationwide. Thepolitical parties appear satisfied with the neutral and transparentconduct of the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI). Themedia are relatively free and professional and have mobilized to poolresources and share their election coverage. Burundian civil societyhas mobilized to observe the elections and to monitor outbreaks ofviolence.

And, all political parties, including the rulingparty/government, have welcomed international observers. The U.S.Embassy in Bujumbura, reinforced by several senior State Departmentofficers from Washington, is deploying observers throughout thecountry. African states and regional organizations – including theAfrican Union, East African Community, International Conference of theGreat Lakes Region and European Union – plan to observe the elections.The United Nations Integrated Office in Burundi (BINUB) is coordinatingdonor assistance to the electoral process.

Despite our optimisticscenario, there are still approximately 200,000 weapons in circulationin the country and many uneducated, unemployed, frustrated and youngpeople are particularly susceptible to political manipulation. Membersof the ruling party at all levels have used government resources andstate authority for elections advantage, and some have intimidatedopponents. There have already been repeated – and sometimes violent –clashes between the members of the five major rival parties. Mostalarming, two members of the Movement for Solidarity and Democracy(MSD) party, who were active at a May 13 rally, were murdered the sameday.

The U.S. Government has consistently and repeatedlycautioned the government’s leadership as well as leaders of all thepolitical parties about the need to avoid intimidation, provocation andviolence. In addition, we have called on the government security forcesand prosecutors to accelerate the investigations and prosecutions ofthose responsible for these election-related incidents, as well asthose responsible for other politically motivated crimes committed inthe past year, such as the April 2009 murder of the vice chairman ofthe National Anti-Corruption and Economic Malpractice Agency.

TheGovernment of Burundi’s recent decision to expel a Human Rights Watch(HRW) researcher, on the grounds that a recent HRW report is biasedagainst the government and the ruling party, is disturbing. It appearsto be another step on the part of the Government and ruling party toclamp down on foreign and domestic NGOs that it considers to be a formof unwelcome political opposition.

We have conveyed our concernsto Burundian officials in both Washington and Bujumbura, and have urgedthe Government to reconsider its decisions and to engage inconstructive dialogue with NGOs and civil society. A healthy andfunctioning civil society is fundamental to the long-termsustainability of peace, good governance, and economic growth inBurundi.

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, I want tothank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. I will behappy to answer any questions you may have.