Burundi opposition leader takes top Parliament job

BUJUMBURA: Burundi’s main opposition leader Agathon Rwasa was Thursday elected as deputy head of the national Parliament, despite having condemned recent elections and supported months of civil unrest.
Rwasa, who has denounced the third consecutive term win by President Pierre Nkurunziza, had said earlier this week that he intended to “play the game” in order to try and help find a solution to the country’s political crisis — but has already been branded a “traitor” by other opposition figures.
In a Parliament session on Thursday, Rwasa was elected as the national assembly’s first deputy president, winning 108 votes out of 112 thanks to support from Nkurunziza’s ruling CNDD-FDD party.
Burundi’s hard-line Interior Minister Edouard Nduwimana, who had pulled out of key talks with the opposition just before the presidential elections, was elected as second vice president of the assembly.
Rwasa has said he would not oppose the formation of a unity government if its main aim is to prepare new elections.
“As long as the negotiations have not been completed, play the game,” Rwasa said on Monday. “I think everything will be determined by the outcome of the dialogue being conducted between the parties.”