Latest update: 02/12/2011 

- Burundi - DR Congo


Burundi: the rebels are back

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Burundi is descending into violence. Attacks on villages and targeted assassinations are increasing. A new rebel group has been formed to challenge President Nkurunziza. Our reporters went to meet its leader in the mountains of South Kivu, in the DRC. This is the first time he has agreed to speak to journalists.

REPORTERS
By Pauline SIMONET

Thursday December 1st was the first day that our Reporters on the new rebellion and political tensions in Burundi was to be broadcast. But suddenly, FRANCE 24 was cut off in the country. I received many phone calls from Burundians frustrated at missing the programme. They have so few opportunities to see reports on their country in the international media.

I had been thinking about the subject for several months. Burundi is gradually sinking into a new war, but no one, or almost is talking about it. It must be said that Burundi, nestled in the heart of Africa’s Great Lakes, between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, is of little interest to the international community. It is one of the continent’s smallest countries, it is not rich in natural resources, and it has a limited regional role. The tragic history of Burundi has not had the same media impact as the genocide and conflict in neighbouring Rwanda.

So when a new rebel group, the Fronatu Tabara, is formed and begins to publish online statements, I seize the chance. The conflict materialises - a good starting point for a report. But I want to approach and meet the rebels. Several weeks of preparation are necessary. The armed men are reticent, they fear falling into a trap.

A meeting across the border

Finally, we manage to establish contact. The rebels give us the green light. But it is only once we arrive in Bujumbura at the beginning of November that we find out the details of the meeting. It will in fact take place on the other side of Lake Tanganyika, in the east of the DRC. We will need to climb up to the highlands of South Kivu, as this is where the armed group has installed its rear base.

We are due to meet our "escorts" in Uvira, Bujumbura’s twin town on the Congolese side. But our departure is postponed several times. It is the height of the electoral period in DRC, and President Joseph Kabila is campaigning in the region. Controls by Congolese soldiers have increased.

Two days of walking

It is difficult to be inconspicuous, since FRANCE 24’s viewers will recognise me. This slows down our crossing of the Congolese border.

After several failed attempts, we finally reach the other side of the border with our guides, at the foot of the mountains. We are told the rebels are only thee hours’ walk away, and that we should arrive by nightfall. I reassure myself that I can manage the trek. In actual fact, it will take us two long days of walking to get to our meeting point.

We finally arrive. It is several hours after nightfall when, suddenly, around twenty armed men descend on the village. These are the rebels we are to meet.

A special report by Pauline Simonet and Julien Sauvaget.

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International community save BURUNDI!!!

by Anonyme - 16/12/2011 - 18:42

Je pense ceux qui disent que ces rebels sont des Rwandais,ils cachent beaucoups des choses parce qu'ils savent que la langue ne signifie pas que leurs causes ne sont pas correctent,on peut dire aussi que dans le gouvernement du Burundi possède des gens qui ne savent pas le Kirundi.

Simonet, Pauline

by Anonyme - 06/12/2011 - 01:35

I have been trying to explain to myself the fact that you have been running in my head, you must be tired by now. I will have to meet with you when I am in Paris France in February next year.
You encapsulate sensuality, elegance, beauty, the heat that burns up an man's sentimental cord. Are you form Mars? You must from the hot red planet because you are hot red, Pauline.

Some mistakes...

by Anonyme - 05/12/2011 - 22:28

The General Moise shown in this report is Rwandan, not Burundian. Guess you got a simple Rwandan/ Banyamulenge mercenary but certainly not an ex-member of the Burundian army, and therefore not a real dissident or head of a rebel group.
However the analysis of the situation in Burundi regarding weak leadership, terror regime,impunity and high corruption is completely right.

SAVE BURUNDI - SAVE BURUNDI - SAVE BURUNDI

by Anonyme - 05/12/2011 - 16:36

Thanks for the reportage. The situation in Burundi is becoming more like Rwanda in 1994. That is why there are new rebellions. The country is ruled by criminals. The leaders have a plan to kill everyone in the opposition (rich or poor). Even Westerners are being killed in Burundi. And the International Community is silent.

Burundi needs help to get rid of Nkurunziza and his party CNDD-FDD and militia. He needs to be sent to the International Tribunal in Lahaye.

We count on you, journalists, France24, TV5, CNN to tell the world that there is an urgent need to intervene and save Burundi.

Burundians in the diaspora, tell the world what is going on in Burundi. Your families back home are in big danger!

How do I contact a journalist at TV5 ?

About the accent of General Moïse

by Anonyme - 05/12/2011 - 14:50

There is no real difference between Kirundi and Kinyarwanda but anyone from the two countries can quickly recognize that the language the general is speaking sounds like Kinyarwanda.
Is he real from Burundi?

Pauline

by Anonyme - 04/12/2011 - 06:31

Pauline, tu es racle comme le soleil qui eclaire ma vie. J'ai un trou dans mn coeur que toi seule peut remplir.

Pauline

by Anonyme - 04/12/2011 - 06:09

Pauline, would you become my alter ego? Would you be my best half?

Pauline

by Anonyme - 04/12/2011 - 06:07

I want to mary this woman!

Burundi: the rebels are back

by Anonyme - 03/12/2011 - 15:05

International community is supporting the regime of Nkurunziza who is kelling opposition members and other defecting members from CNDD FDD, who are denouncing the Human rights violations, arbitrary arrests, killings done by the Police and Intelligence of the regime and corruption being institutionalized by the President Peter Nkurunziza. I hope that the international community will not come back apologizing as to what heppenned in Rwanda, for not protecting burundians being assassinated by it's Authorities.

Burundi: the rebels are back

by Anonyme - 03/12/2011 - 14:54

The burundians are going back in the past years where anybody who said anything against the regime was immediately killed because of his opinion. The inernational community has the obligation to protect burundians who are being killed just for the political oppinions. Requesting to support burundians revolution as being done in Syria and other arab countries.

France- Buyoya: The Axis of Evil for the Burundian people

by Anonyme - 03/12/2011 - 04:24

Nous savons tres bien que la France n'a jamais soutenu un pouvoir democratique au Burundi. Le soutient que ce pays a toujours accorde au dictateur sanguinaire Buyoya est bien documente. Que ces espions francais se deguisent en journaliste pour faire une propagande malsaine contre le peuple burundais qui n'aspire que de paix ca n'etonne personne non plus. Que le soi-disant chef rebel parle kinyarwanda au lieu du kirundi, et qu'il soit base dans les plateaux de Mulenge chez ses freres de sang ca n'etonne pas non plus ceux de nous qui sommes bien informe sur les visees racistes de l'Empire Hima Havila. Ce qui m'etonne plutot c'est le manque de discernement des gens comme Rwasa qui collabore avec l'ennemi du peuple qu'il pretend defendre. Quant a ceux qui se rejouissent de l'existence d'une rebellion au Burundi ma question est pourquio alors vous versez des larmes de crocodile quand le pouvoir en place au pays attrape ces rebelles et les traite comme il faut?

SAVE BURUNDI

by Anonyme - 02/12/2011 - 19:31

Thanks for the reportage. The situation in Burundi is becoming more like Rwanda in 1994. That is why there are new rebellions. The country is ruled by criminals. The leaders have a plan to kill everyone in the opposition (rich or poor). Even Westerners are being killed in Burundi. And the International Community is silent.

Burundi needs help to get rid of Nkurunziza and his party CNDD-FDD and militia. He needs to be sent to the International Tribunal in Lahaye.

We count on you, journalists, France24, TV5, CNN to tell the world that there is an urgent need to intervene and save Burundi.

Burundians in the diaspora, tell the world what is going on in Burundi. Your families back home are in big danger!

How do I contact a journalist at TV5 ?

Are those rebells really burundians?

by Anonyme - 02/12/2011 - 11:30

Thank u for that report but there is something confusing me.Are those guys really Burundians? The language there are speaking is not Kirundi( Burundian Language)It sounds to be Kinyarwanda( Rwandian Language)
We all know the situation in Burundi. If there were a rebellion mouvements,We should expected to be created after 2010 and not 2006 as claimed by that officer.

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