AFRICA/BURUNDI - The control of rare Burundian earths behind the political crisis related to the third term of Nkurunziza?

Bujumbura (Agenzia Fides) - Behind the political crisis in Burundi there is also a struggle of influence between foreign powers for the control of deposits of rare earths. This was revealed to Agenzia Fides by sources of the Church of Burundi.
"The Church calls for respect for the rule of law and the guarantee of the rights of the people" say our sources, referring to the Bishops' message on September 20, which advocates dialogue between all parties without exception (see Fides 24/09/2015). "The government of President Pierre Nkurunziza, however, rejected the Bishops' appeal, creating a commission for dialogue, but with a limited mandate that excludes contacts with most of the opposition", say Fides sources.
"The Bishops' message is also very clear in strongly denouncing violence" the sources said. "Every day there are new corpses of people killed during the night on the streets of Bujumbura. We know that those arrested are tortured".
"On the other hand, the government is trying to buy the people. This is thanks to large finance availability resulting from mining contracts for the exploitation of rare earths with Chinese companies" reveal Fides sources.
"While the United States and the European Union have condemned the violation of the Arusha Accords and the Constitution of Burundi, through the imposition of the third term of Nkurunziza. An indirect clash is imagined between the West, and in particular the United States with China, which seems to continue to support the President. One of the issues at stake is the control of rare Burundian earths", conclude Fides sources.
According to the latest geological studies, the rare earths in Burundi are of excellent quality. The rare earth elements are used in the electronics industry and other high-tech applications. China, which produces 97% of the world’s rare earths tries to maintain its monopoly by acquiring the deposits of other states. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 25/09/2015)

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