Alice Nzomukunda
Encyclopedia
Alice Nzomukunda is a Burundi
an politician and former Second Vice-President
of the country, from 29 August 2005 to 5 September 2006. She is an ethnic Hutu
and was a member of the National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy
(CNDD-FDD).
According to the constitution, Burundi's Second Vice-President is responsible for economic and social affairs. Nzomukunda was nominated by President Pierre Nkurunziza
on 29 August 2005. She was endorsed by both chambers of parliament
(National Assembly
- 109 votes 'for', none 'against' and 46 votes 'for', 2 'against' in the Senate
) and immediately sworn in. She is originally from the capital city of Bujumbura
.
On 5 September 2006, Nzomukunda resigned as Second Vice-President, citing corruption and human rights
abuses by the government, as well as casting doubt on the authenticity of a coup plot which saw former president Domitien Ndayizeye
arrested a few weeks before on August 21. She was replaced as Second Vice-President by Marina Barapama.
Nzomukunda subsequently became First Vice-President of the National Assembly
. In January 2008, Nzomukunda was expelled from the CNDD-FDD "for internal disciplinary reasons" at an extraordinary congress of the party. The CNDD-FDD also decided to remove her from her post as First Vice-President of the National Assembly, and on 8 February 2008 it was announced in the National Assembly that her post was vacant; according to Evariste Ndayishimiye, the President of the CNDD-FDD Parliamentary Group, since Nzomukunda had been expelled from the CNDD-FDD, she was no longer part of its parliamentary group, "did not represent anything", and was not entitled to the post of First Vice-President of the National Assembly. Other parties in the National Assembly disputed this, however, arguing that such a decision would have to be made by the National Assembly as a whole, not by a single party. The Front for Democracy in Burundi
(FRODEBU) suspended its participation in the National Assembly to protest the use of force against Nzomukunda. Ndayishimiye said that parliamentary affairs should not be disrupted by internal party matters and alleged that FRODEBU had secret reasons for defending Nzomukunda.
Burundi
Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
an politician and former Second Vice-President
Vice-President of Burundi
The position of Vice-President of the Republic of Burundi was created in June 1998, when a transitional constitution went into effect. It replaced the post of Prime Minister.- Interim Period :...
of the country, from 29 August 2005 to 5 September 2006. She is an ethnic Hutu
Hutu
The Hutu , or Abahutu, are a Central African people, living mainly in Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern DR Congo.-Population statistics:The Hutu are the largest of the three peoples in Burundi and Rwanda; according to the United States Central Intelligence Agency, 84% of Rwandans and 85% of Burundians...
and was a member of the National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy
National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy
The National Council for the Defense of Democracy–Forces for the Defense of Democracy was the most significant rebel group active in the Burundi Civil War and became a major political party in Burundi...
(CNDD-FDD).
According to the constitution, Burundi's Second Vice-President is responsible for economic and social affairs. Nzomukunda was nominated by President Pierre Nkurunziza
Pierre Nkurunziza
Pierre Nkurunziza is a Burundian politician who has been President of Burundi since 2005. He is the Chairman of the National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy , the ruling party in Burundi, and also the current Chairman of the East African...
on 29 August 2005. She was endorsed by both chambers of parliament
Parliament of Burundi
The Parliament of Burundi consists of two chambers:*The Senate *The National Assembly...
(National Assembly
National Assembly of Burundi
The National Assembly is the lower chamber of Parliament in Burundi. It consists of 100 directly elected members and between 18 to 21 co-opted members who serve five-year terms....
- 109 votes 'for', none 'against' and 46 votes 'for', 2 'against' in the Senate
Senate of Burundi
The Senate is the upper chamber of Parliament in Burundi. It consists of no fewer than 37 and no more than 54 members who serve 5-year terms....
) and immediately sworn in. She is originally from the capital city of Bujumbura
Bujumbura
-Education:The University of Burundi is located in Bujumbura.Hope Africa University is located in BujumburaUniversité du Lac Tanganyika is located in Bujumbura-External links:**...
.
On 5 September 2006, Nzomukunda resigned as Second Vice-President, citing corruption and human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
abuses by the government, as well as casting doubt on the authenticity of a coup plot which saw former president Domitien Ndayizeye
Domitien Ndayizeye
Domitien Ndayizeye is a Burundian politician who was President of Burundi from 2003 to 2005. Of Hutu descent, he succeeded Pierre Buyoya—a Tutsi—as national president on April 30, 2003, after serving as Buyoya's vice-president for 18 months...
arrested a few weeks before on August 21. She was replaced as Second Vice-President by Marina Barapama.
Nzomukunda subsequently became First Vice-President of the National Assembly
National Assembly of Burundi
The National Assembly is the lower chamber of Parliament in Burundi. It consists of 100 directly elected members and between 18 to 21 co-opted members who serve five-year terms....
. In January 2008, Nzomukunda was expelled from the CNDD-FDD "for internal disciplinary reasons" at an extraordinary congress of the party. The CNDD-FDD also decided to remove her from her post as First Vice-President of the National Assembly, and on 8 February 2008 it was announced in the National Assembly that her post was vacant; according to Evariste Ndayishimiye, the President of the CNDD-FDD Parliamentary Group, since Nzomukunda had been expelled from the CNDD-FDD, she was no longer part of its parliamentary group, "did not represent anything", and was not entitled to the post of First Vice-President of the National Assembly. Other parties in the National Assembly disputed this, however, arguing that such a decision would have to be made by the National Assembly as a whole, not by a single party. The Front for Democracy in Burundi
Front for Democracy in Burundi
The Front for Democracy in Burundi is a progressive political party in Burundi.It was formed by followers of Melchior Ndadaye from the disbanded Burundi Workers' Party in 1986...
(FRODEBU) suspended its participation in the National Assembly to protest the use of force against Nzomukunda. Ndayishimiye said that parliamentary affairs should not be disrupted by internal party matters and alleged that FRODEBU had secret reasons for defending Nzomukunda.