AFRICA/BURUNDI - Burundians await appointment of new vice president

Thursday, 11 November 2004

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Bujumbura (Fides Service)- Burundians expect the new vice president to be appointed today, after President Domitien Ndayizeye (Hutu), dismissed his Tutsi deputy, Alphonse-Marie Kadege yesterday. “The appointment of Kadege’s successor was expected yesterday evening but apparently party discussion lasted longer than foreseen” local sources in Bujumbura capital of Burundi told Fides.
Kadege is an important figure in the main Tutsi party UPRONA (Union Pour le Progres National). In a statement the party leadership expressed surprise at Kadege’s dismissal but it also said it would accept the President’s decision “because we wish save the country from a serious crisis”.
“UPRONA’s reaction would seem to confirm the will to go ahead with the transition process started three years ago. In fact the situation in Bujumbura seems calm,” the sources told Fides. “The new vice president will be a Tutsi probably a member of UPRONA or some other party which represents the Tutsi minority” the sources told Fides.
In the meantime preparations continue for the referendum on the Constitution scheduled for 26 November although it could be postponed again as it was on October 20 (see Fides 1 October 2004). “Time is short and there is much to do be done. Financial covering is not yet guaranteed. A new postponement is possible” the sources told Fides. Kadege was dismissed officially because he suggested that the referendum should be postponed. “The real reason for his dismissal was that President Ndayizeye wanted to put an end to a difficult working relationship with his vice president in view of the next crucial 6 months of the transition process. The President wants a man who can interact constructively” the sources told Fides. Following the referendum there will be elections in 2005 local in March and presidential in April.
“The parties would appear not to want to throw away 3 years of transition which has brought some benefit to the people” the sources told Fides. “Efforts are concentrated on defining the country’s future political arrangement. They hope that when the transition period is over and an agreement is reached with the guerrillas the government can focus on Burundi’s economic and social development”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 11/11/2004 righe 33 parole 423)