UNHCR commends Rwanda on Burundian refugees

[mchambawima1]

The representative of the UN's refugee agency has commended the government and people of Rwanda for hosting and protecting thousands of Burundian refugees.

Saber Azam was, Wednesday, visiting the new Mahama refugee camp in Kirehe District, where Burundian refugees are being settled.

"It's not easy to be a small country, that is heavily populated, and go against all odds and receive as many brothers and sisters who come to seek protection in a brotherly country," Azam told officials and refugees. He was accompanied by the Minister for Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs, Seraphine Mukantabana, who was flanked by local leaders in the area.

He noted that Rwanda's security forces ‘played a big role' in ensuring security at refugee camps and borders, in addition to protecting aid agencies' staff.

"We are really very grateful to the government and people of Rwanda. The world should learn from Rwanda – how much this country is able and capable of protecting those who need protection."

Located far from the Rwanda-Burundi border, Mahama camp, on a 50 hectare area, has space enough to accommodate 50,000 people.

By Wednesday morning, the camp had received over 7,300 out of 22,728 refugees who were in the country on that day.

Azam also thanked Kirehe District officials and population for their hospitality.

The local community helped quickly clear bushes in the vast area now being fitted with basic structures, including tents, medical facilities among other things.

Azam was impressed by the fact that the camp was made ready to receive refugees within days of its assessment.

As soon as the camp location was identified, locals and aid agencies – each with a specific undertaking – including the American Refugee Committee (ARC), the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), World Vision, Plan International (Plan), the Red Cross, UNICEF– stepped in.

"This is the fastest ever camp I have seen in my 20 years work experience with refugee camps.

And this is because of the efficiency of the Government of Rwanda," Azam said.

Due to the emergency situation, the camp received undocumented refugees as hundreds crossing from Burundi could not be readily registered before moving on to Kirehe, aid agency officials noted.

Meanwhile, Jacques Rumanyika, the ARC site manager, said they were working fast to establish more hangars and ensure everybody was protected from the sun and rain.

"We are receiving an average 100 of people at the health centre and we expect more. But by next week, we'll be able to have our own standard health centre," Rumanyika said.

In addition to nine nurses, the camp's new health centre will have a resident doctor. World Vision – which is in charge of water – in the camp was looking to create washing points that can cater for more than 8,000 people.

A Rwf300 million budget had been drawn for a sustainable water access project involving a 15-kilometer water pipe to cut reliance on trucks.

A Plan International official explained that they were managing on the child protection front. By Wednesday, there were 85 unaccompanied minors.

Kirehe District vice-mayor (social affairs), Jacqueline Murekatete, said: "We need to especially care for the children, the elderly and the mothers who are vulnerable. These refugees are our people and we will ensure that they are safe."

The government last week granted the fleeing Burundians refugee status.

Rwanda already hosts more than 73,000 Congolese refugees settled in five other camps.

Crisis ahead of presidential elections

The refugees are fleeing from political instability back home linked to forthcoming parliamentary and presidential elections.

The refugees claim Imbonerakure (Kirundi word literally meaning "those that see far"), a youth wing of Burundi's ruling party, the National Council for the Defence of Democracy-Forces for Defence and Democracy (CNDD-FDD), are harassing and attacking members of opposition political parties.

Protests continue

On Saturday, the CNDD-FDD held a congress in the Burundian capital, Bujumbura, where President Pierre Nkurunziza was picked as party's flag bearer in the presidential polls set for end June.

The opposition says the move is unconstitutional. Since Sunday, there were protests in the capital even as thousands of citizens continued to flee the country.

The protests continued yesterday stalling business in the capital. The national university in Bujumbura closed on Thursday and sent students home.

Aspiring presidential candidates Agathon Rwasa and Jean Minani announced they will boycott the June election unless President Nkurunziza drops his bid to stand for a third term.


editorial@newtimes.co.rw

 

[Snipper]

Burundi sijui wana akili za namna gani. Washazoea kuishi ukimbizini

 

[Snipper]

jMali, hivi ni kweli kuwa hakuna chembe ya ukabila katika sakata linaloendelea Burundi?

 

[jMali]

jMali, hivi ni kweli kuwa hakuna chembe ya ukabila katika sakata linaloendelea Burundi?

Ninavyojua hakuna, hata jeshi la sasa ni miksa, kwa historia, tofauti na Rwanda, wakati Burundi inapata uhuru, wahutu hawakupindua jeshi, jeshi lilibaki kuwa la watutsi (minorities) wakati wananchi majority walikuwa wahutu. Basi ikawa kila wakipiga kura anashinda mhutu halafu jeshi la watutsi linamuua, kuanzia Pierre Ngendandumwe ,Melchior Ndadaye, Cyprien Ntaryamira (huyu alikufa kwenye ile ndege ya habyarimana), rais akawa Sylvestre Ntibantunganya, ambaye akaja kupinduliwa na mtutsi pierre buyoya (ambaye alishawahi kuwa rais 1987). Chama cha watutsi UPRONA kilitawala kidikteta toka 1962 mpaka 1993. walipofanya uchaguzi huru 1993, alishinda Ndadaye (mhutu), jeshi kama kawa likamuua halafu buyoya (akachukua tena), hapo ndipo kina Nkurunziza chini ya CNDD-FDD wakaingia msituni kupambana na serikali, ndio wabongo tukaingilia kati tukawasuluhisha. Hiyo ndio historia.
Baada ya kuwasuluhisha ugomvi kati ya wahutu na watutsi sio mkubwa, tuliwawekea formula za asilimia bungeni na kwingineko wakawa freshi kabisa. Burundi tofauti na Rwanda huwezi kujua nani mtutsi nani mhutu na hawabaguani. Ndio maana hata sasa hivi ukiangalia utakuta wapinzani wakubwa wa Nkurunzinza ni wahutu wenzie, waasi wa DRC kutoka burundi nao ni wahutu wakati rais ni mhutu! kwa hiyo kwa sasa kwa kiasi kikubwa ni ugomvi wa madaraka, hata ukikuta watutsi wanapingana na Nkurunziza ukweli ni kuwa wanapigania siasa sio ukabila.
Lakini inasemekana mtu fudenge ndio anachochea mgogoro ili uwe wa kikabila. Soma mwenyewe hii habari chini, akili zake uchanganye na za kwako.

Kagame's Regime Continues To Destabilize Burundi: Why?

April 30, 2015 17:32 Great lakes



It's a payback for Pierre Nkurunziza's government revelations about Lake Rweru corpses last year. Kagame also had to get even because Nkurunziza allegedly leaked Kagame's evil plan to assassinate Kikwete over his statement requesting Kigali to negotiate with its FDLR rebels.


So Kagame is trying to turn Burundi's 3rd presidential term issue into an ethnic problem. Kagame is trying hard to stir the pot so the killings can become widespread in Burundi, in which case he would manage to portray Nkurunziza as a worse criminal than Kagame himself. Kagame's agents have also reportedly infiltrated some mainstream media inside Burundi, including the infamous RPA radio station that was closed recently in Bujumbura. Most horrible images from Burundi circulating on social media campaign are being posted by trolls run by Kigali agents in order to back what they are doing inside Burundi and to make Burundi situation look terrible to the international community. They are blowing things out of proportion, therefore forcing Nkurunziza government to crack down on Internet and social media.


The issue of 3rd term for Nkurunziza could turn out to be a non-issue if only Burundians could focus their energy on debating it properly. The ongoing troubles are serving a distraction from that main goal. Also, if elections were to take place in normal circumstances, maybe Nkurunziza would lose in popular election.

Another outcome that Kagame may not have foreseen: a scenario where Nkurunziza may use today's chaotic situation to his own political advantage.


Nkurunziza, an ex-rebel leader himself, could successfully play fear-mongering card with a scared population. He could postpone the June elections (which may be understandable due to the "civil war") which would buy him enough time to reassure the population. Since he has already secured nomination by CNDD-FDD to run for president, the postponement would also buy him enough time to campaign for the next election.


Nkurunziza can also use the postponement period to focus on restoring peace and stability, make himself appear as a saint by turning down his nomination. While Burundians are busy worshiping with pastor/president Nkurunziza, he would use this time to fix up fresh cracks within his party and prepare the next candidate of his choice.

If Nkurunziza plays his cards right, he may come out of this crisis stronger than he has ever been

Bosco Mutarambirwa

Mtu mwenye akili timamu lazima ajiulize: Iweje UNHCR iwapongeze Rwanda kwa kuhifadhi wakimbizi wa nchi zingine wakati the same UNHCR inatambua na kuwahifadhi wakimbizi zaidi ya 100,000 kutoka Rwanda nchi zingine? SA, angola, malawi, zimbabwe....(wakimbizi about 200,000 DRC not included).

Hii ni habari ya juzi tu 2013: " Waziri wa Uganda anayehusika na wakimbizi amesema wamepokea maombi 1800 kutoka kwa raia wa Rwanda". source: BBC

 

[mchambawima1]

jMali, hivi ni kweli kuwa hakuna chembe ya ukabila katika sakata linaloendelea Burundi?

Interahamwe mnalipa swali gumu kweli!!! hivi likolinafikiria ni namna gani linaweza likachomekea ukabila, hebu angalia wenzako walivyompa wakati mgumu.... anasema eti kama hujui siasa za wahutu na watutsi unaweza kudhani hivyo, nenda chunguza hao wanaokwenda rwanda ni kabila gani, kabila litakalokuja kuomba hifadhi TZ sio hao wanaokwenda Rwanda, ngoma ikinoga na wao watakuja bongo au wataenda DRC
kafikiria kidogo baada ya kuona kachemsha akaona wacha aje na hii.... inawezekana, lakini burundi ni tofauti kidogo na Rwanda, Burundi kuna umoja kiasi fulani, hivyo kinachoendelea sasa si vita vya ukabila bali ni vita vya kugombea madaraka zaidi.
sie tunao mjuwa tunaelewa atakacho.... kwa vyovyote hivi atakuwa yuko anaunganisha dots alafu aje kutuambia jinsi RDF infiltrators are now operating in Burundi to destabilize that beautiful country Lol

 

[Hute]

Ninavyojua hakuna, hata jeshi la sasa ni miksa, kwa historia, tofauti na Rwanda, wakati Burundi inapata uhuru, wahutu hawakupindua jeshi, jeshi lilibaki kuwa la watutsi (minorities) wakati wananchi majority walikuwa wahutu. Basi ikawa kila wakipiga kura anashinda mhutu halafu jeshi la watutsi linamuua, kuanzia Pierre Ngendandumwe ,Melchior Ndadaye, Cyprien Ntaryamira (huyu alikufa kwenye ile ndege ya habyarimana), rais akawa Sylvestre Ntibantunganya, ambaye akaja kupinduliwa na mtutsi pierre buyoya (ambaye alishawahi kuwa rais 1987). Chama cha watutsi UPRONA kilitawala kidikteta toka 1962 mpaka 1993. walipofanya uchaguzi huru 1993, alishinda Ndadaye (mhutu), jeshi kama kawa likamuua halafu buyoya (akachukua tena), hapo ndipo kina Nkurunziza chini ya CNDD-FDD wakaingia msituni kupambana na serikali, ndio wabongo tukaingilia kati tukawasuluhisha. Hiyo ndio historia.
Baada ya kuwasuluhisha ugomvi kati ya wahutu na watutsi sio mkubwa, tuliwawekea formula za asilimia bungeni na kwingineko wakawa freshi kabisa. Burundi tofauti na Rwanda huwezi kujua nani mtutsi nani mhutu na hawabaguani. Ndio maana hata sasa hivi ukiangalia utakuta wapinzani wakubwa wa Nkurunzinza ni wahutu wenzie, waasi wa DRC kutoka burundi nao ni wahutu wakati rais ni mhutu! kwa hiyo kwa sasa kwa kiasi kikubwa ni ugomvi wa madaraka, hata ukikuta watutsi wanapingana na Nkurunziza ukweli ni kuwa wanapigania siasa sio ukabila.
Lakini inasemekana mtu fudenge ndio anachochea mgogoro ili uwe wa kikabila. Soma mwenyewe hii habari chini, akili zake uchanganye na za kwako.

Kagame’s Regime Continues To Destabilize Burundi: Why?

April 30, 2015 17:32 Great lakes



It’s a payback for Pierre Nkurunziza’s government revelations about Lake Rweru corpses last year. Kagame also had to get even because Nkurunziza allegedly leaked Kagame’s evil plan to assassinate Kikwete over his statement requesting Kigali to negotiate with its FDLR rebels.


So Kagame is trying to turn Burundi’s 3rd presidential term issue into an ethnic problem. Kagame is trying hard to stir the pot so the killings can become widespread in Burundi, in which case he would manage to portray Nkurunziza as a worse criminal than Kagame himself. Kagame’s agents have also reportedly infiltrated some mainstream media inside Burundi, including the infamous RPA radio station that was closed recently in Bujumbura. Most horrible images from Burundi circulating on social media campaign are being posted by trolls run by Kigali agents in order to back what they are doing inside Burundi and to make Burundi situation look terrible to the international community. They are blowing things out of proportion, therefore forcing Nkurunziza government to crack down on Internet and social media.


The issue of 3rd term for Nkurunziza could turn out to be a non-issue if only Burundians could focus their energy on debating it properly. The ongoing troubles are serving a distraction from that main goal. Also, if elections were to take place in normal circumstances, maybe Nkurunziza would lose in popular election.

Another outcome that Kagame may not have foreseen: a scenario where Nkurunziza may use today’s chaotic situation to his own political advantage.


Nkurunziza, an ex-rebel leader himself, could successfully play fear-mongering card with a scared population. He could postpone the June elections (which may be understandable due to the “civil war”) which would buy him enough time to reassure the population. Since he has already secured nomination by CNDD-FDD to run for president, the postponement would also buy him enough time to campaign for the next election.


Nkurunziza can also use the postponement period to focus on restoring peace and stability, make himself appear as a saint by turning down his nomination. While Burundians are busy worshiping with pastor/president Nkurunziza, he would use this time to fix up fresh cracks within his party and prepare the next candidate of his choice.

If Nkurunziza plays his cards right, he may come out of this crisis stronger than he has ever been

Bosco Mutarambirwa

Mtu mwenye akili timamu lazima ajiulize: Iweje UNHCR iwapongeze Rwanda kwa kuhifadhi wakimbizi wa nchi zingine wakati the same UNHCR inatambua na kuwahifadhi wakimbizi zaidi ya 100,000 kutoka Rwanda nchi zingine? SA, angola, malawi, zimbabwe....(wakimbizi about 200,000 DRC not included).

Hii ni habari ya juzi tu 2013: " Waziri wa Uganda anayehusika na wakimbizi amesema wamepokea maombi 1800 kutoka kwa raia wa Rwanda". source: BBC

hapo kwenye red, i wish ningeambiwa ni plan ipi, ilikuwaje alivyotaka kumuua kikwete. pamoja na kwamba ninaamini kagame ni moja wapo wa watu wapumbavu sana ambao huwa wanaweza kuvamia kundi la nyuki au manyigu bila kuvaa mask usoni. anaweza hata akamfuata mamba mtoni ili amkamate kwa mikono. ni dictator ambaye kifo chake kitakuja kuwa cha aibu sana na damu nyingi zinamlilia.

 

[Snipper]

jMali asante kwa ufafanuzi murua

 

[Snipper]

Kama Pk anamchango katika vurugu za Burundi, basi he is a terrible devil