The Party for the Restoration of the Monarchy and Dialogue (Parti pour la restauration de la monarchie et la dialogue, ABAHUZA) is listed as a Burundian political party by the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa (EISA) (EISA Sept. 2006), a not-for-profit organization based in Johannesburg which promotes democratic governance in Africa (EISA n.d.). According to the Telegraph, the name ABAHUZA means "'come together'" in the Kirundi language (Telegraph 7 Nov. 2004 see also EISA Sept. 2006). Media sources report that ABAHUZA was recognized as an official political party by the Interior Ministry of Burundi in September 2004 (The Independent 23 Oct. 2004; ABP 20 Sept. 2004; MX 20 Oct. 2004). Information about ABAHUZA prior to 2004 could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
Media sources report that ABAHUZA's leaders aim to restore the monarchy in Burundi and heal ethnic and tribal divisions (ABP 20 Sept. 2004; The Times 29 Sept. 2004; BBC 24 Sept. 2004; Essence 1 May 2005). ABAHUZA leaders have stated that they hope to establish a constitutional monarchy based on European models (Afrik 18 Jan. 2005; Afrol News 28 Sept. 2004; UMUCO 21 Sept. 2004). ABAHUZA's presidential candidate has criticized the quotas that determine the percentage of Tutsis and Hutus in government (The Independent 23 Oct. 2004). According to media sources, the candidate hoped her status as a Ganwa [also known as Baganwa] (a royal class which considers itself neither Tutsi nor Hutu) would "put her above tribal loyalties" (The Independent 23 Oct. 2004; Afrik 18 Jan. 2005). The Independent reports that ABAHUZA's presidential platform includes social reforms and economic development (23 Oct. 2004). Similarly, in an interview with Afrik, the presidential candidate indicated that social issues, health and education were ABAHUZA's main priorities (Afrik 18 Jan. 2005).
Media sources report that in 2005 an ABAHUZA leader urged Burundi's president to recognize the Ganwa as a separate ethnic group (PANA 30 Aug. 2005a; Grioo 13 Dec. 2005) and criticized the appointment of political positions based on ethnicity in Burundi (PANA 30 Aug. 2005b). According to the United Nations (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in March 2006, the president of ABAHUZA urged the president of Burundi and the UN to include the Ganwa in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (UN 29 Mar. 2006).
ABAHUZA party leaders and structure
Prince Godefroid Kamatari, a high-ranking member of the royal family (The Independent 23 Oct. 2004; Afrol News 28 Sept. 2004), was ABAHUZA's leader in 2004 when the party was founded (EISA Sept. 2006; Afrol News 28 Sept. 2004; ABP 20 Sept. 2004; Umuco 21 Sept. 2004). The Panafrican News Agency (PANA) and the website Burundi Contact report that Prince Kamatari died of unknown causes in August 2005 (PANA 21 Aug. 2005; Burundi Contact 22 Aug. 2005).
ABAHUZA's presidential candidate for the 2005 election was the sister of Prince Kamatari, Princess Esther Kamatari, a former fashion model who has been living in France since 1970 (The Independent 23 Oct. 2004; Telegraph 7 Nov. 2004). She is the niece of the last king (or mwami) of Burundi (Eggers 2006, 72;The Independent 23 Oct. 2004; PANA 30 Aug. 2005b). Media sources report that Esther Kamatari has been engaged in relief work for Burundi since the 1990s (Afrol News 28 Sept. 2004; The Independent 23 Oct. 2004; Essence 1 May 2005; All Africa 3 Nov. 2005).
Further information about the leaders and structure of ABAHUZA could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
Treatment by the government and society
Information on the treatment of ABAHUZA members by government authorities and society was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. According to an article in the Telegraph, Esther Kamatari received death threats and "menacing" letters and phone calls in 2004 after announcing her presidential candidacy (Telegraph 7 Nov. 2004).
In a telephone interview with the Research Directorate, a representative of the United Nations (UN) Integrated Office in Burundi (Bureau intégré des nations unies au Burundi, BINUB) stated that ABAHUZA has not been very active politically and is not widely popular in Burundi (UN 7 May 2009). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a political science professor at the University of Florida similarly noted that the monarchist party played only a minor role in politics and had the support of only a small portion of the population; he doubted members of ABAHUZA would be targeted by the authorities (Professor of Political Science 4 May 2009).
African Elections Database and the the Burundi Human Rights League (Ligue burundaise des droits de l'homme ITEKA, Ligue ITEKA) indicate that ABAHUZA won one seat of 3,225 in the 3 June 2005 communal elections (Ligue ITEKA June 2005; African Elections Database 30 June 2005). The African Elections Database indicates that the seat is in the Cibitoke zone of Bujumbura (ibid.).
According to EISA and the African Elections Database, ABAHUZA did not win any seats in the parliamentary elections (EISA Sept. 2006; African Elections Database 5 July 2006), which occurred on 4 July 2005 (ibid.). Although the African Elections Database did not list specific results for ABAHUZA, it indicates that "independent and other" parties received 4.51 percent of votes (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
ABP News Agency [Bujumbura, in French]. 20 September 2004. "Burundi: Minister Approves Two New Parties." (Factiva/BBC Monitoring Africa)
African Elections Database. 5 July 2006. "Elections in Burundi." <http://africanelections.tripod.com/bi.html> [Accessed 11 May 2009]
_____. 30 June 2005. "03 June 2005 Communal Elections in Burundi." <http://africanelections.tripod.com/bi_2005communal.html> [Accessed 24 Apr. 2009]
Afrik. 18 January 2005. Falila Gbadamassi. "Esther Kamatari: Princesse, bientôt Présidente?" <http://www.afrik.com/article8022.html> [Accessed 5 May 2009]
Afrol News. 28 September 2004. "Burundi Princess, Top Model Seeks Presidency." <http://www.afrol.com/articles/14302> [Accessed 29 Apr. 2009]
AllAfrica. 3 November 2005. "Silent Auction Highlights Liberia's Plight." (Factiva)
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 24 September 2004. "Princess for President in Burundi." <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3688238.stm> [Accessed 6 May 2009]
Burundi Contact. 22 August 2005. "Le neveu du Roi Mwambutsa IV s'est éteint à Kigali." <http://www.burundicontact.com/spip.php?breve33> [Accessed 6 May 2009]
Eggers, Ellen K. 2006. Historical Dictionary of Burundi. Third Edition. Lanham, Maryland: The Scarecrow Press, Inc. <<http://www.scarecrowpress.com/Chapters/Index.shtml?SKU=0810853027&Site=scarecrowpress&Title=Historical%20Dictionary%20of%20Burundi&FileType=PDF> [Accessed 27 Apr. 2009]
Electoral Insititute of Southern Africa (EISA). September 2006. "Burundi: Parties Without a Seat in Parliament." <http://www.eisa.org.za/WEP/burparties2.htm> [Accessed 27 Apr. 2009]
_____. N.d. "About EISA." <http://www.eisa.org.za/EISA/about.htm> [Accessed 27 Apr. 2009]
Essence. 1 May 2005. Volume 36, Issue 1. Nicole Saunders. "Europe's First Black Supermodel Runs for President of her Homeland." (Factiva)
Grioo. 13 December 2005. Esther Kamatari. "Lettre ouverte au Président de la République du Burundi par la Princesse Esther Kamatari." <http://www.grioo.com/pinfo5957.html> [Accessed 8 May 2009]
The Independent [London]. 23 October 2004. Meera Selva. "Esther Kamatari: The Princess Who Wants to be President." <http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/esther-kamatari-the-princess-who-wants-to-be-president-544723.html> [Accessed 11 May 2009]
Ligue burundaise des droits de l'homme ITEKA (Ligue ITEKA) [Bujumbura]. June 2005. "Publication des résultats définitifs de l'élection des conseillers communaux du 3 juin 2005." Bulletin Iteka No. 74. <http://www.ligue-iteka.africa-web.org/article.php3?id_article=827> [Accessed 7 May 2009]
MX [Melbourne]. 20 October 2004. "Princess a Model of Peace." (Factiva)
Panafrican News Agency (PANA). 30 August 2005a. "Female Burundi Politician Pleads for Ethnic Ganwa." (Factiva)
_____. 30 August 2005b. "Female Burundi Politician Deplores Tribalism." (Factiva)
_____. 21 August 2005. "Burundian Prince Dies Suddenly in Kigali." (Factiva)
Professor of Political Science, University of Florida. 4 May 2009. Correspondence.
Telegraph [Chatham, UK]. 7 November 2004. Kim Willsher. "Cat-walk Princess Seeks Power in Burundi." <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/burundi/1476072/Cat-walk-princess-seeks-power-in-Burundi.html> [Accessed 29 Apr. 2009]
The Times [London]. 29 September 2004. Jonathan Clayton. "Exiled Princess Returns Home to Challenge for Control of Burundi." (Factiva)
Umuco. 21 September 2004. "Paribu et Abahuza, nouveaux partis." <htp://www.africatime.com/burundi/nouvelle.asp?no_nouvelle=143473&no_categorie=143473> [Accessed 6 May 2009]
United Nations (UN). 7 May 2009. Integrated Office in Burundi (Bureau intégré des nations unies au Burundi, BINUB). Telephone interview with a representative.
_____. 29 March 2006. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). "Morning News Brief." <http://www.reliefweb.int/ochaburundi/am_brief/bur290306.htm> [Accessed 4 May 2009]
Additional Sources Consulted
Internet sites, including: Amnesty International (AI), European Country of Origin, Information Network (ecci.net), Human Rights Watch (HRW), International Crisis Group, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) RefWorld.