National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy
Encyclopedia
The National Council for the Defense of Democracy–Forces for the Defense of Democracy (French
: Conseil National Pour la Défense de la Démocratie–Forces pour la Défense de la Démocratie, NCDD–FDD) was the most significant rebel group active in the Burundi Civil War
and became a major political party in Burundi
. The NCDD was the political wing of the organization, while the FDD was the military wing. It was founded in 1994, a year after the assassination of Hutu
President Melchior Ndadaye
. The political wing was dominated by Hutu intellectuals from the southern region of Bururi
led by Leonard Nyangoma, while the fighting wing was composed of troops drawn from throughout the country, which led to a split in the group in 2001.
The rebel group was often referred to simply as Forces for the Defense of Democracy (FDD).
In 2001, the CNDD–FDD consisted of about 15,000 rebels led by Jean-Bosco Ndayikengurukiye. However a schism in October 2001 led to the overthrow of Ndayikengurukiye by Pierre Nkurunziza
. The Nkurunziza-led faction, consisting of 10,000 to 12,000 troops signed a ceasefire with the government in December 2002, but continued fighting. The faction led by Ndayikengurukiye became the lesser of the two with about 5,000 fighters. It also signed a ceasefire with the government in October 2002 to which it has roughly held.
At an official ceremony in January 2005, the group registered as a legal political party. In largely peaceful parliamentary elections
on 4 July 2005, the CNDD won an estimated 60 to 80 percent of the vote, making it likely that a CNDD representative would be chosen president in August. Pierre Nkurunziza
indeed was elected President of Burundi unopposed on August 19.
At the legislative elections
, the party won 57.8 % and 64 out of 118 seats.
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
: Conseil National Pour la Défense de la Démocratie–Forces pour la Défense de la Démocratie, NCDD–FDD) was the most significant rebel group active in the Burundi Civil War
Burundi Civil War
The Burundi Civil War was an armed conflict lasting from 1993 to 2005. The civil war was the result of long standing ethnic divisions between the Hutu and the Tutsi tribes in Burundi...
and became a major political party in Burundi
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...
. The NCDD was the political wing of the organization, while the FDD was the military wing. It was founded in 1994, a year after the assassination of 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...
President Melchior Ndadaye
Melchior Ndadaye
Melchior Ndadaye was a Burundian intellectual and politician. He was the first democratically elected and first Hutu president of Burundi after winning the landmark 1993 election...
. The political wing was dominated by Hutu intellectuals from the southern region of Bururi
Bururi
Bururi is a city located in southern Burundi. It is the capital city of Bururi Province and has around 20.000 inhabitants in 2007.In 1972, local Hutu gendarmes in Bururi drove out military and civil government control of the Tutsi military regime of Micombero. A republic was declared, and a week...
led by Leonard Nyangoma, while the fighting wing was composed of troops drawn from throughout the country, which led to a split in the group in 2001.
The rebel group was often referred to simply as Forces for the Defense of Democracy (FDD).
In 2001, the CNDD–FDD consisted of about 15,000 rebels led by Jean-Bosco Ndayikengurukiye. However a schism in October 2001 led to the overthrow of Ndayikengurukiye by 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...
. The Nkurunziza-led faction, consisting of 10,000 to 12,000 troops signed a ceasefire with the government in December 2002, but continued fighting. The faction led by Ndayikengurukiye became the lesser of the two with about 5,000 fighters. It also signed a ceasefire with the government in October 2002 to which it has roughly held.
At an official ceremony in January 2005, the group registered as a legal political party. In largely peaceful parliamentary elections
Burundi elections, 2005
The Republic of Burundi held several elections in 2005. The polls returned the nation to constitutional democratic rule after a devastating civil war that arose from long-standing ethnic tensions between the Hutu majority and the Tutsi minority....
on 4 July 2005, the CNDD won an estimated 60 to 80 percent of the vote, making it likely that a CNDD representative would be chosen president in August. 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...
indeed was elected President of Burundi unopposed on August 19.
At the legislative elections
Burundi elections, 2005
The Republic of Burundi held several elections in 2005. The polls returned the nation to constitutional democratic rule after a devastating civil war that arose from long-standing ethnic tensions between the Hutu majority and the Tutsi minority....
, the party won 57.8 % and 64 out of 118 seats.
External links
- Ex-Hutu rebels win Burundi poll, BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
5 July 2005