Cablegate: Burundi's President Nominates New Members Of

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DE RUEHJB #0453 1651535
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P 141535Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0378
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
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UNCLAS BUJUMBURA 000453

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL BY
SUBJECT: BURUNDI'S PRESIDENT NOMINATES NEW MEMBERS OF
GOVERNMENT

REF: A. BUJUMBURA 422

B. BUJUMBURA 025

1. (U) Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza announced new
appointments to fill the positions of National and Deputy
National Prosecutor, the Presidency of the Constitutional
Court, and the mayor of Bujumbura. He also announced the
replacements of six of Burundi's seventeen governerships The
nominations, presented for approval to the Senate in a closed
session on June 8, were leaked to Burundi's media, and
subsequently made public. The new appointees took office
immediately upon the Senate's approval June 11.

2. (U) The Government of Burundi offered no official reason
for the proposed changes. All of the June 8 nominees are
appointed by Presidential decree, and serve no fixed term.
Each individual serves at the discretion of the President.

3. (U) The new nominees are as follows:

-- National Prosecutor: Elysee Ndaye, previously President of
the Constitutional Court. Ndaye has no official party
affiliation. He replaces Jean-Bosco Ndikumana, recently
appointed to Deputy Chief of Staff in the office of the
President (Reftel A).

-- Deputy National Prosecutor: Charles Ndayisenga was
nominated to this newly created position. Ndayisenga is a
career magistrate, with no official party affiliation.

-- President of the Constitutional Court: Christine
Nzeyimana, previously a jurist on Burundi's Supreme Court.
Nzeyimana was one of the three judges who decided the case of
the seven individuals, including former President Domitien
Ndayizeye and former Vice-President Alphonse Kadege, who were
accused of "threatening state security" in 2006. (Reftel B)
She has no official party affiliation, and is married to
Ambassador Adolphe Nahayo, Director of International
Organizations in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

-- Mayor of Bujumbura: Elias Buregure, previously Director
General of Roads in the Ministry of Public Works.
Buregure is a member of the National Council for the Defense
of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD),
and was trained as an engineer in the former Soviet Union.
He replaces Celestin Sebutama (CNDD-FDD).

-- Governor of Bururi: Esperance Inamahoro, previously a
director in the National Social Security Institute.
Inamahoro is a member of CNDD-FDD. She replaces Veronique
Nizigama (CNDD-FDD).

-- Governor of Makamba: Pasteur Bucumi, previously an
engineer in the Ministry of Public Works. Bucumi is a member
of CNDD-FDD. He replaces Reverien Ndikuriyo (CNDD-FDD).

-- Governor of Muramvya: Oscar Ndayiziga, previously Director
General of the Institute of Nature Conservation. Nidayiziga
is a member of CNDD-FDD. He replaces Joachim Barutwanayo
(CNDD-FDD).

-- Governor of Cankuzo: Jean-Berchmans Niragira, previously
an engineer in the Ministry of Public Works. Niragira is a
member of CNDD-FDD. He replaces Regine Katabarumwe
(CNDD-FDD).

-- Governor of Kirundo: Oscar Ruvuna, previously a journalist
and producer with the National Television and Radio Board.
Ruvuna is a member of Union for National Progress (UPRONA).
He replaces Francois Hatungimana (CNDD-FDD).

-- Governor of Cibitoke: Zephrin Barutwanayo, previously a
teacher at a commune-level college in Cibitoke. Barutwanayo
is a member of CNDD-FDD. He replaces Samson Ndayizeye
(CNDD-FDD).

4. (SBU) Comment. With the exception of the new Governor of
Kirundo, President Nkurunziza's nominations carefully leave
intact Burundi's existing balance of party affiliation.
Although no official reason was given for the changes, it
appears that the President, whatever his reasons, does not
want to "upset the apple cart" anymore than he considers
necessary. End Comment.
BREITER

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