The Catholic Bishops of Burundi have unanimously opposed President Nkurinziza’s appetite for the third term bid. The Catholic Bishops of Burundi have said that the incumbent president should not stand for a third term in this year’s June elections.

Speaking on Saturday Archbishop Evariste Ngoyagoye the Metropolitan Archbishop of Bujumbura said in a statement that, “We call upon politicians in power not to speculate or misinterpret the constitution. All the constitution provisions about the President’s terms are very clear: no President can lead the country more than two terms of five years each,”

Burundi is caught in a dispute on whether President Pierre Nkurunziza, who has been in power since 2005, should be allowed to stand for another term given that the former rebel leader was selected by lawmakers rather than voted into office in 2005 for his first term.

Under the constitution, he is allowed to serve only two terms but his supporters argue his first term should not count. The supporters of President Nkurunziza argue that the election of Parliament doesn’t count, although President Nkurunziza himself has not yet said that he will run, his supporters affirm he can.

“The peace deal signed by all political stakeholders in 2000 is also clear; it states that from now no President will rule for more than two terms,” added Archbishop Ngoyagoye in the message issued by the country’s Episcopal conference.

It is likely that if the two sides are locked up in the legal technicalities, they might seek constitutional interpretation of the contested Article in which both sides basis their argument, however, it is also likely that the outcome of the interpretation might not be respected by both sides.

Catholics in Burundi represent about 70% of the total population. The Archbishop’s comments mark the first time the Catholic Church has taken a position officially on the debate about a third term for President Nkurunziza. The Church played a key role in peace talks in Burundi.

Archbishop Ngoyagoye said the Catholic Church will soon organize a novena across the country to pray for a peaceful handover between the current President and his successor.

Civil society organizations have already warned that they will call for street protests if President Nkurunziza, announces his candidacy for a third term.

The UN Security council will soon visit this landlocked country.  During the visit, its 15-member delegation will discuss with Burundi’s leaders how to organize a peaceful and transparent election this year. This is the spirit of the Catholic Church in Burundi, where are their counterparts in Rwanda?  We have a Church in Rwanda that has been swallowed, intimidated, or infiltrated in the same way MRND assimilated the Catholic Church before the Rwandan Genocide.

We salute the Catholic Church of Burundi for its courage and independence, its stance of pro-people not pro the government.  The Catholic Church has a moral duty to remain neutral and apolitical even in the most politically charged situation.

The Rwanda Catholic Bishops like their counterparts in Burundi should devote their life to fighting poverty, injustice, oppression and inequality and advancing ideas of forgiveness and cooperation. Our Bishops instead are clapping and giving standing ovation to a dictator when he is preaching revenge and killing, they should be instrumental in promoting non-violent resistance to Kagame’s brutal rule and advise the president Kagame against changing the Constitution in bid to seek another term.

We urge the Catholic Church in Rwanda to emulate the Catholic Church of Burundi.  Our Bishops and World leaders including President Barack Obama should take a strong lead in stopping the Rwandan leader from joining the  club of African leaders  who over stay in power. We know that No oppressive order could permit the oppressed to begin to question: Why? We should then stand up like Catholic Bishops of Burundi and the Burundi people and ask Kagame why?

Jacqueline Umurungi

Brussels