Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza has ordered the deportation of Anthony Masozera, the Chief Executive Officer of Econet Burundi for reportedly spying for Rwanda, Chimp Corps report.
Econet is the second largest telecoms operator in Burundi and Masozera is of Rwandan origin.
ChimpReports understands that during the weekend, Nkurunziza directed the Interior Ministry to have Masozera kicked out of the country.
“Masozera is now persona non grata, according to Burundi authorities. Burundi’s turmoil is getting out hand,” said a diplomat on Monday morning.
Persona non grata means “an unwelcome person,” or a foreign person whose entering or remaining in a particular country is prohibited by that country’s government.
This means Masozera will need special clearance to return to Burundi.
Prior to joining Econet, Anthony worked for MTN for 10 years in various capacities including chief executive officer in West Africa and chief financial officer in Rwanda.
He is a Certified Public Accountant with the State of Texas where he obtained his Bachelors and Master of Business of Administration degrees and is also a founding member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Rwanda. Anthony is a Fellow of the fourth class of the Africa Leadership Initiative-East Africa and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
Burundi’s decision to expel Masozera is not surprising, considering that tensions between the two countries have been boiling since the unrest started three weeks ago, leading to the influx of over 10,000 refugees into Rwanda.
Rwanda last week warned that it would not look on idly as Burundi government forces continue toengage in targeted violence.
So far 18 people have been killed by government forces during protests challenging Nkurunziza’s third term presidency.
Rwanda President Paul Kagame also spoke about the situation in Burundi during his presentation at the 45th St Gallen Symposium in Switzerland on May 8, wondering why Nkurunziza was sticking to power.
“If your own citizens tell you we don’t want you to lead us, how do you say I am staying whether you want me or not,” Kagame told off Nkurunziza.
“The First responsibility lies with leaders of Burundi, they need to do more in order to stop movement of refugees,” he added.
Kagame emphasised that the turmoil in Burundi “is not just about third term. It is about delivery of services.”
Sources told this investigative website that Burundi government believes Rwanda wants Nkurunziza out of power. But officials in Rwanda say they have a right to speak because of the refugee crisis in the country.
Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta has since weighed in on the violence that Monday entered the third week, saying, “The continued civil unrest in Burundi is not only a threat to the country’s stability but the whole of the East African region.”
Nkurunziza was last week nominated to run for the third term. He promised not to stand for the fourth term.
The Arusha Accords provide that the President should only stand for two terms but Burundi officials say Nkurunziza’s first reign was by appointment by Parliament not adult suffrage.
On Sunday, protests resumed with the leader of the civil society groups, Pacifique Nininahazwe, warning that “resistance will continue until Nkurunziza steps down.”
He said an order by the National Security Council that protests stop and all barricades removed from Bujumbura and other parts of the country tantamount to a “declaration of war.”
On 26 May and 26 June 2015, the people of Burundi will vote in legislative and presidential elections.
UN pressure
The Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region, Said Djinnit, told the Security Council that Burundi is fast sliding into anarchy.
The U.S. representative to United Nations, Samantha Power said last week that all parties in Burundi must refrain from violence and intimidation before, during, and after elections, and to actively support the conditions for a peaceful, timely, credible, and inclusive elections process.
“What we are seeing is a Burundi sliding into violent turmoil. The intensity of the violence has increased this week. Live rounds, water cannons, and arbitrary arrest have been used against protestors. We’ve now seen reports of grenade attacks,” said Power.
“While reports of those killed and arrested vary, we know that on May 4th at least three protestors were shot dead. On May 6th, another half dozen people were reportedly killed, and over the last three days, we have started to see more gruesome attacks against alleged members of the Imbonerakure, including a lynching and separate burning.”
Power said amidst this increase in violence, refugee flows into Rwanda, Tanzania, and the DRC have skyrocketed to over 50,000 people.
“Any further violence carries with it the risk of irreversible consequences not just for Burundian citizens, but for the people of the Great Lakes region writ-large.”
