UNCLAS BUJUMBURA 000086

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/C AND DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL BY
SUBJECT: BURUNDI'S PARLIAMENT NAMES NEW SECOND VICE
PRESIDENT

REF: BUJUMBURA 81


1. The Burundian parliament named Gabriel Ntisezerana as the
Second Vice President on February 9. Immediately prior to
his designation, Ntisezerana was the governor of the Central
Bank of Burundi. In a statement given after his appointment,
Ntisezerana declared that "priorities will be a fight against
poverty and corruption". Ntiserezana, a university laureate
originally from the Bubanza province, was a former manager
with Interbank Burundi.


2. President Nkurunziza dismissed the former Second Vice
President, Marina Barampama, on February 8 for
"insubordination and irresponsibility". Barampama was a
staunch ally of the former CNDD-FDD party president, Hussein
Radjabu. Her dismissal came after she attempted to rally a
boycott of the CNDD-FDD party Congress on February 7 in
Ngozi, which replaced Radjabu, by simultaneously calling a
meeting in Bujumbura of officials who report to her. (reftel)


3. The political and business community in Bujumbura hailed
the appointment of Ntisezerana as a positive and welcome step
toward economic progress and political stability. A
replacement governor of the Central Bank will be named in the
near future.
MOLLER