Baha'i News: Burundi elects national Baha'i assembly after 17 years

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Date Wed, 11 May 2011 14:57:29 +0300

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Burundi elects national Baha'i assembly after 17 years


BUJUMBURA, Burundi, 11 May 2011 (BWNS) – The Baha'is of Burundi are celebrating 
after their National Spiritual Assembly was elected for the first time in 17 
years.

The Baha'i Faith was first established in the landlocked Eastern African 
republic in the 1950s. But civil war and unrest during recent decades made it 
difficult for the Baha'i community to administer its affairs. 

"Everyone is very, very happy that after such a long time, the Baha'is in 
Burundi have been able to re-elect their National Assembly," said Ahmad Parsa, 
who attended the election on behalf of the Continental Board of Counsellors for 
Africa.

"And it is not only the Baha'is in Burundi who are happy," said Mr. Parsa. "In 
neighbouring countries, they are all rejoicing to know their sister country has 
its National Spiritual Assembly again."

All 19 delegates – themselves elected by the wider Baha'i community of Burundi 
– participated in the election, held from 29 April to 1 May at the national 
Baha'i centre in the Nyakabiga neighbourhood of the capital, Bujumbura. 

Among the delegates were three members of the Batwa, an ancient pygmy people 
who have traditionally suffered ethnic prejudice and general exclusion from 
society. One of them, Delphin Sebitwa, was among the nine people elected to 
serve on the new National Spiritual Assembly. 

"I don't think we yet understand the importance of this moment," said Mr. 
Parsa. "Hopefully, this new light that has been turned on will illuminate the 
whole country."


To read the article online and view photographs, go to:
http://news.bahai.org/story/822

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