About the Event
In April 2015, the nomination of Pierre Nkurunziza to run for a third Presidential term in Burundi triggered a series of peaceful demonstrations that were repressed by the police. Following a failed coup attempt in May 2015, the ruling party won the majority in parliament and Pierre Nkurunziza was reelected after elections that have been largely deemed neither free nor credible by the international community and national stakeholders.
Since then, the violence and human rights abuses that occurred during the months of demonstrations and conflict that preceded the elections have turned into the wave of killings and kidnappings of the last couple of months. Tensions have thus steadily been rising. Resolution of the crisis will need an inclusive dialogue that has so far failed to materialize despite international and regional efforts.
This public event will discuss:
- The current state of the Burundian political crisis and its regional significance;
- The regional and international efforts to promote the dialogue between all parties to the crisis.
Featuring
Faustin Ndikumana, Executive Director, Parole et Action pour le Réveil des Consciences et l’Evolution des Mentalités (PARCEM)
Moderated by
Pierre Tantchou, Assistant Program Officer, National Endowment for Democracy
About the Speaker
Faustin Ndikumana is a Burundian human rights defender and anti-corruption activist. He is the Executive Director of Parole et Action pour le Réveil des Consciences et l’Evolution des Mentalités (PARCEM), which he founded in 2009. PARCEM works in all the provinces of Burundi to promote human rights, peaceful dialogue, good governance, and strong political leadership by providing citizens with the knowledge and tools to participate in the country’s positive development. The organization acts as a think tank and focuses its actions on political and economic governance and advocacy through workshops, research, roundtables and press conferences involving experts, local and external actors, and media. As a political economist, Ndikumana trained senior security service officials on the development of the 2013 National Strategy for Good Governance and Fight against Corruption and evaluated its implementation on behalf of civil society organizations.
All cameras and media must register with NED public affairs.
Please email press@ned.org to register as a member of the press.
