Burundi : the two opposing wings of UPRONA settle their differences

The two sides of the UPRONA* party have decided to come back together for the next elections. They indicate that they have agreed to joint communication on everything that happens both internally and outside the party. The reunification took place last weekend at the party headquarters in the Bujumbura municipality. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

After ten years of division, reunification appears to be effective.

Olivier Nkurunziza, the party president, announces that this is the outcome of several meetings between these two parties that agreed to get back together for the interest of the party and the nation.

The dialogue sessions lasted two years, as Olivier Nkurunziza pointed out.

“It was the desire of both sides to get back together, to dialogue and to actually see the issues that needed to be debated and find consensus and compromise. We are approaching the elections, we felt that it was good that the leadership continues to lead the party but in collaboration with other Badasigana (name given to members of UPRONA)”, declared Mr. Nkurunziza.

According to him, they all realized that the divisions within this party ultimately did not benefit either party.

The other camp led by Tatien Sibomana also welcomes reunification.

“The first added value that we bring is our men. We bring intelligent, honest Badasigana, who have shown love for the party without compensation. We even took risks without hoping to reap anything,” indicated Tatien Sibomana.

For him, his camp brings activists who will be useful to the party by providing expertise to the party, proposing solutions to the problems that haunt the members of this party and the country. They intend to work together with the other camp to allow their party to take another step forward and perhaps even return to business as Tatien Sibomana suggested.

This act committed by the parties in dissension of the party of Rwagasore (hero of the independence of Burundi) should serve as an example for other political groups having experienced similar problems, especially on the eve of the elections, according to Olivier Nkurunziza who admits that his party experienced many problems during a ten-year split.

The UPRONA party is not represented in the government, but it has two deputies in the National Assembly with a seat in the bureau of the lower house of parliament, and one member in the Legislative Assembly of the East African community, EALA.

UPRONA* : The Union for National Progress, the party that sought Burundi’s independence