BURUNDI'S PRESIDENT NOMINATES NEW MEMBERS OF

UNCLAS BUJUMBURA 000453 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR AF/C AND INR/B E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL BY SUBJECT: BURUNDI'S PRESIDENT NOMINATES NEW MEMBERS OF GOVERNMENT REF: A. BUJUMBURA 422 ¶B. BUJUMBURA 025 ¶1. (U) Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza announced new appointments to fill the positions of National and Deputy National Prosecutor, the Presidency of the Constitutional Court, and the mayor of Bujumbura. He also announced the replacements of six of Burundi's seventeen governerships The nominations, presented for approval to the Senate in a closed session on June 8, were leaked to Burundi's media, and subsequently made public. The new appointees took office immediately upon the Senate's approval June 11. ¶2. (U) The Government of Burundi offered no official reason for the proposed changes. All of the June 8 nominees are appointed by Presidential decree, and serve no fixed term. Each individual serves at the discretion of the President. ¶3. (U) The new nominees are as follows: -- National Prosecutor: Elysee Ndaye, previously President of the Constitutional Court. Ndaye has no official party affiliation. He replaces Jean-Bosco Ndikumana, recently appointed to Deputy Chief of Staff in the office of the President (Reftel A). -- Deputy National Prosecutor: Charles Ndayisenga was nominated to this newly created position. Ndayisenga is a career magistrate, with no official party affiliation. -- President of the Constitutional Court: Christine Nzeyimana, previously a jurist on Burundi's Supreme Court. Nzeyimana was one of the three judges who decided the case of the seven individuals, including former President Domitien Ndayizeye and former Vice-President Alphonse Kadege, who were accused of "threatening state security" in 2006. (Reftel B) She has no official party affiliation, and is married to Ambassador Adolphe Nahayo, Director of International Organizations in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. -- Mayor of Bujumbura: Elias Buregure, previously Director General of Roads in the Ministry of Public Works. Buregure is a member of the National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD), and was trained as an engineer in the former Soviet Union. He replaces Celestin Sebutama (CNDD-FDD). -- Governor of Bururi: Esperance Inamahoro, previously a director in the National Social Security Institute. Inamahoro is a member of CNDD-FDD. She replaces Veronique Nizigama (CNDD-FDD). -- Governor of Makamba: Pasteur Bucumi, previously an engineer in the Ministry of Public Works. Bucumi is a member of CNDD-FDD. He replaces Reverien Ndikuriyo (CNDD-FDD). -- Governor of Muramvya: Oscar Ndayiziga, previously Director General of the Institute of Nature Conservation. Nidayiziga is a member of CNDD-FDD. He replaces Joachim Barutwanayo (CNDD-FDD). -- Governor of Cankuzo: Jean-Berchmans Niragira, previously an engineer in the Ministry of Public Works. Niragira is a member of CNDD-FDD. He replaces Regine Katabarumwe (CNDD-FDD). -- Governor of Kirundo: Oscar Ruvuna, previously a journalist and producer with the National Television and Radio Board. Ruvuna is a member of Union for National Progress (UPRONA). He replaces Francois Hatungimana (CNDD-FDD). -- Governor of Cibitoke: Zephrin Barutwanayo, previously a teacher at a commune-level college in Cibitoke. Barutwanayo is a member of CNDD-FDD. He replaces Samson Ndayizeye (CNDD-FDD). ¶4. (SBU) Comment. With the exception of the new Governor of Kirundo, President Nkurunziza's nominations carefully leave intact Burundi's existing balance of party affiliation. Although no official reason was given for the changes, it appears that the President, whatever his reasons, does not want to "upset the apple cart" anymore than he considers necessary. End Comment. BREITER