Burundi suspends activities of opposition party MSD

The Burundian government has suspended activities of the Movement for Solidarity and Democracy (MSD) "for announcing a plan to create a rebel group," a senior official said Wednesday.

Home Affairs and Civic Education Ministry Spokesman Therence Ntahiraja said the ministry had suspended activities of the MSD for six months.

"Offices of the party countrywide are not authorized to open during the suspension period," Ntahiraja said.

According to him, the MSD has been, since 2013, violating the East African country's national constitution and the law on political parties stipulating that "no registered party is allowed to create a rebel group."

"Recently, we heard Alexis Sinduhije (MSD chairman) announcing on some radio stations that his party is going to set a rebel group that will combat the government until he captures the country," Ntahiraja said.

He added that some people who surrendered or who were arrested during or after the protests against another candidature of the Burundian president in 2015 admitted that Sinduhije had recruited them for the rebel group that would be formed outside Burundi.

The MSD is among the country's main opposition parties that have not so far been divided into wings.

Its chairman Sinduhije has lived in exile since 2014 for his fierce criticisms against the Burundian government.

In March 2014, the MSD was suspended for four months following violent clashes between the party youth and police agents at the party headquarters in the capital.

The party was accused of "inciting party militants to acts of revolt, hatred and violence." Endit