Burundi Tourism Minister quits

Three Burundi Minsters quit coalition bringing government to verge of collapse(Posted 07th February 2014)

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Victoire Ndikumana, Minister of Posts, Commerce, Industry and Tourism resigned from government on Wednesday only one day after Communal Development Minister Jean-Claude Ndihokubwayo and Information, Communication, Telecommunications and Parliament Relations Minister Leocadie Nihazi had quit their ministerial posts.

The resignation of the three ministers followed the dismissal on Saturday of Burundi’s First Vice-President Bernard Busokoza over his alleged ‘inability‘ to distinguish his assignments as the country’s deputy-president and his conduct as a chairman of a political party, throwing Burundi into the worst political crisis since the last elections and the end of the civil war. There is speculation now over the possible collapse of the current government as a result of the three ministers resigning after the First Vice President was sacked.

The move by Minister Ndikumana is also threatening a nascent tourism industry, which was rocked only two weeks ago by revelations that there is sustained poaching of hippos in the Rusizi National Park. Burundi has confirmed participation in the forthcoming ITB Berlin 2014 and while the tourism office and private sector according to one source from Bujumbura is still expected to attend, it is by no means certain that the delegation will be led by a newly appointed tourism minister.

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