DISSENSION WITHIN BURUNDI'S OPPOSITION UPRONA

UNCLAS BUJUMBURA 000522 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR AF/C AND INR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL BY SUBJECT: DISSENSION WITHIN BURUNDI'S OPPOSITION UPRONA REF: BUJUMBURA 513 ¶1. (U) Summary. The Executive Committee of UPRONA voted to suspend from the party its two highest-ranking members of the government, following the party's decision not to participate in the new cabinet. After his suspension, the First Vice-President of the Republic consulted the arm of the party with the statutory authority to suspend members, the Central Committee, which asserted its authority, and subsequently overturned the ruling by the Executive Committee. End Summary. ¶2. (U) The Executive Committee of Burundi's third-largest political party, the Union for National Progress (UPRONA), voted July 19 to suspend Burundi's First Vice-President, Dr. Martin Nduwimana, from the party, as well as to suspend the recently appointed Minister of Transportation, Philippe Njoni. The suspensions followed broad changes in the cabinet of President Pierre Nkurunziza, announced July 13 (Reftel). Dr. Nduwimana and Mr. Njoni are the UPRONA party's highest ranking members in the cabinet. ¶3. (U) UPRONA had refused to participate in the new government, and indeed, Dr. Yves Sahinguvu, the newly appointed Minister of Public Health, declined his nomination, citing internal party rules. Some older UPRONA members from Dr. Nduwimana's home province of Bururi had urged the party to dismiss the First Vice-President for his willingness to sign the President's decree announcing the new cabinet members, and the new Minister of Transport for his agreement to join the government. When the Executive Committee made the July 19 announcement to suspend the two, the First Vice-President consulted the party's Central Committee to explain his reasons for signing the decree. The Central Committee convened, and declaring their authority in this matter, decided that the First Vice-President and the new Minister of Transport would remain members of the party and of the government. Internal Workings of UPRONA -------------- ¶4. (U) UPRONA's internal control is exercised through two arms of the party, the Executive Committee, comprised of thirty-four members, and the much larger Central Committee. The Executive Committee was able to garner twenty-six votes in favor of the suspensions, and made its announcement without the approval of the Central Committee. Though smaller, the Executive Committee is composed of established and powerful members, and has much sway in the party, but, in accordance with party guidelines, it does not have the authority to suspend members. This authority rests with the larger Central Committee. ¶5. (U) The Central Committee enjoys a much more broad-based and representative swath of the party. It is comprised of twenty members from each of Burundi's seventeen provinces, twenty university students from across the country, and eight "National Secretaries." According to UPRONA's internal statutes (Article 46),for a general member of the party to be suspended, the Central Committee must convene a "Disciplinary Council", which then makes a recommendation of suspension (or not) to the Central Committee. It is at this point that the Central Committee decides, and makes known its decision. ¶6. (SBU) Comment. This disagreement between the Executive and Central Committees could signal a potential rift in the party. According to some political observers here, the Executive Committee is comprised of prominent, permanent members who do the daily work of the party, but most of the power in the party is statutorily invested in the Central Committee. Granting that the Executive Committee overreached in its attempt to suspend the party's highest ranking members in the government, its come-uppance by the Central Committee will likely rankle, and could have further consequences. End Comment. MOLLER