Burundi’s main opposition party, the Front for Democracy in Burundi (FRODEBU), Thursday decided to suspend until further notice its participation in the Parliament to protest against the “use of force” aimed at dismissing the institution’s first Vice-President, Alice Nzomukunda.
FRODEBU said it did not appreciate the deployment of security forces to the Parliament to oust Mrs Nzoumukunda and to withdraw her official vehicles.
The political troubles of Mrs Nzomukunda started last month when the ruling National Council for Defense and Democracy/Forces for Defense and Democracy (CNDD/FDD), meeting in extraordinary congress, decided to expell her and to remove her from the Parliament board “for internal disciplinary reasons”.
The CNDD/FDD, which has no parliamentary majority, was relying on other parliamentary groups to secure the dismissal of Mrs Nzomukunda.
FRODEBU parliamentary group Chairman Pierre Claver Nahimana said on Thursday the sacking of a member from the Parliament board should be preceded by an internal debate on the reasons for such decision.
“The party has its way of organisation and the internal difficulties should not affect the smooth conduct of the Parliament”, CNDD/FDD parliamentary group leader Evariste Ndayishimiye retorted, alleging the opposition has unspoken reasons for defending Mrs Nzomukunda. Panapress
