afrol News, 4 April - Supreme Court in Burundi has sentenced the former Chairman of President Pierre Nkurunziza's ruling Forces for the Defence of Democracy [FDD] to 13 years behind bars.

Hussein Radjabu had been found guilty of attempting to “recruit former rebels with the aim of destabilising the state" and insulting President Nkurunziza, referring to him as an "empty bottle."

The party's ascension to power after winning an election three years ago nailed Burundi's 12-year civil conflict, which killed more than 300,000 people.

A rift between President Nkurunzinza and Mr Radjabu resulted to the replacement of the latter as the party Chairman in February 2007.

This followed the arrest of Mr Radjabu in April 2007 and replacement of ministers loyal to him from holding key positions.

As a key political figure, Mr Radjabu has got the support of the two third of Burundian lawmakers and the minority Muslim community. Most people believed the sentence is nothing short of "a political vendetta."

The 1993 assassination of Burundi's first Hutu President, Melchior Ndadaye, plunged the country into a civil war. A 2001 power-sharing deal, brokered by south Africa, saved the country.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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