TRUE LEADERSHIP BASED ON THE
TORAH AND PROPHECY
Honorable leaders of our countries, Burundi and Africa, you Christians and all
Burundians in general, I welcome you on this important day. I stand before you, not
out of fear of man, but out of fear of the Word of God, a word that has the power to
build and to destroy, a word that has undeniable truth. Today, we discuss a very
significant matter: True leadership based on God’s principles, especially those we find
in the Torah, prophecy, and the books of the Apocrypha, in the midst of the false
leadership currently existing in Africa.
In many years past, we have seen many leaders in Africa, including those who claim to
serve God, using His word for their own personal interests. They use religions as a tool
to consolidate their power, lying to the citizens that God is with them, while their
actions are contrary to God’s principles. This is a serious problem, because turning
God’s word into a lie is a very grave sin. I testify that such leaders, and the Christians
who support them, need a serious self-examination.
Leadership as a Divine Mandate
In the Torah, God clearly showed that leadership is not a human right, but a sacred
duty given by God Himself. Every leader, whether a king, a judge, or a head of state,
must know that the power they have comes from God, and that they will be held
accountable for what they did. God established laws governing leaders, not to mistreat
them, but so that they protect His citizens and lead in justice.
Laws governing the king in the Torah (Deuteronomy 17:14-20)
God gave clear instructions to the king of Israel, instructions that should be a lesson for
every leader today:
Do not hoard wealth: A king must not accumulate money, horses (symbolizing
military strength and power), or wives (symbolizing excessive pleasure). All these
were intended to protect him from elevating himself, forgetting God, and
oppressing his citizens. Our leaders in Africa, stop hoarding the country’s wealth
while your citizens are dying of hunger. God is watching you!
Write the laws with his own hands and read them every day: The king had to
write a copy of the law (Torah) and read it every day so that he would not elevate
himself above his citizens, and would continue to respect God’s laws. Our
leaders, how often do you read God’s laws? How often do you remember that
there is One who appointed you and One who will hold you accountable?
Do not be arrogant: His heart must not look down on his brothers. True
leadership hates self-elevation, pride, and giving oneself more honor than others.
Leaders of Africa, stop feeling that you are more honorable than your citizens.
You are servants of the people, you are not their masters.
Justice: The Pillar of Leadership
In the Torah, the word justice (Mishpat and Tzedek) is repeated often, because it is the
foundation of good leadership. God commanded that justice must be rendered
without bias, without favoritism, whether to the poor or to the rich. (Exodus 23:1-9,
Leviticus 19:15, Deuteronomy 16:19-20)
Do not speak false information: A true leader must not speak false information,
or support those who speak lies. In Burundi and in Africa, we see many leaders
using the media to lie to the citizens, to sow divisions, and to consolidate their
power. This is contrary to God’s Word!
Do not be biased in judgment: “Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to
the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.” (Leviticus
19:15) Judges, police officers, and all leaders, you must judge people fairly,
regardless of their wealth or their positions. Justice must be the pillar of the
country.
“Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue.” (Deuteronomy 16:20) This word
shows that justice is not something optional, but a command from God. When
justice is trampled upon, the country collapses, the citizens lose hope, and God
becomes angry.
Hypocrisy and Wickedness: Grave Sins Before God
Honorable ones, let us speak the undeniable truth. In Burundi, the government said it
put God first, but the evils there are many: killings, theft, and injustice. President
Nkurunziza (late) and President Evariste Ndayishimiye appeared as those who pray,
but citizens are killed in all the streets. President Ndayishimiye carries a cross every
year, passing through the streets saying it is the way of the cross. This is also done by
President Tshisekedi in Congo. But what justice is there in those external religious acts,
while citizens continue to be killed every day, robbed, and mistreated?
God does not tolerate hypocrisy. He does not tolerate leaders who misappropriate His
name, using religious symbols, while their actions are contrary to His laws. Carrying a
cross in public, or saying that God is first, while the blood of the innocent continues to
be shed, theft spreads everywhere, and injustice becomes a culture, is mocking God
and His people!
As you have said, God puts His word first, and He never separated government from
obeying God. In the Torah, the country’s government had to be based on God’s laws. A
leader who does not obey God, no matter how much they pray, is wicked before God.
God looks at the hearts, He does not look only at external actions. (1 Samuel 16:7)
Prophecy and the Books of the Apocrypha: Stern
Warnings to Bad Leaders
When we look at the books of prophecy and the Apocrypha, we find stern warnings to
leaders who oppress the humble while claiming to serve God. These prophets and
writers did not fear to speak the truth, showing God’s anger at all sinners, especially
leaders.
Prophecies of Isaiah and Amos: False Worship
Prophets like Isaiah and Amos strongly rejected religious festivals and the prayers of
people with blood on their hands, or those who oppress the humble. God said He
hated their sacrifices and their prayers, because their hearts were far from Him.
“The Lord says: ʻThese people come near to me with their mouth and honor me
with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.’” (Isaiah 29:13)
“I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me. Even
though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away
with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let
justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:21-24)
This clearly shows that God does not care about external religious acts, but cares
about justice in the hearts of people, especially leaders.
The Books of the Apocrypha: Warnings to Judges and Kings
The books of the Apocrypha, like the Wisdom of Solomon and Sirach, also give strong
warnings to leaders. They show that kings and judges will be judged severely by God
because they were given power by the Most High but did not lead in justice.
“Listen therefore, O kings, and understand; learn, O judges of the ends of the earth.
Give ear, you that rule the multitudes, and boast of many nations. For your
dominion was given you from the Lord, and your sovereignty from the Most High,
who will search out your works and inquire into your plans.” (Wisdom of Solomon
6:1-3)
These books show that God is not pleased with the offerings of those who oppress the
humble, and that the sacrifice of a wicked person is contrary to His laws. (Sirach 34:18
22) Leaders who do evil, no matter how much they pray, God is not pleased with their
religious acts.
Consequences of False and Hypocritical Leadership
God does not tolerate leaders who mislead His citizens, or those who use His name in
lies. In the Torah, God gave strong warnings to such leaders. Turning God’s word into a
lie is a very grave sin. Leaders who use religions for their own interests, teaching bad
ideologies, and lying to citizens, will be held accountable by God. (Exodus 20:7)
Using God’s name in lies: “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God,
for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” (Exodus 20:7)
Leaders of Africa, stop using God’s name in lies, while you oppress citizens, steal,
and kill. God is watching you, and He will judge you.
Consequences for the country: When leaders do what is contrary to God’s laws,
their country falls into punishment. We see many African countries in turmoil,
wars, poverty, and diseases, due to bad leadership. All these are consequences of
disobeying God.
Call to Repentance and Liberation
Honorable leaders, you Christians, and all Burundians, today is a day for repentance.
But true repentance is not just changing clothing or words. Rather, it is liberating
oneself from lies, from hypocrisy, and from the bondage of bad ideologies that have
destroyed you.
Leaders, return to God’s principles, lead in justice, in truth, and in love. Stop hoarding
wealth, stop oppressing citizens, stop lying. Remember that it is God who gives you
power, and He will hold you accountable. Your liberation will begin when you stop
using God’s name in lies, and strive for true justice.
Christians, stop being deceived by bad ideologies. Stop supporting leaders who act
contrary to the Word of God. Thank you very much.
