Section of Burundians tell Mkapa to keep off peace talks..CHECK THIS OUT
A section of Burundians now want the facilitator of Burundi peace talks to ‘step aside’ and let them sort their differences on their own.
In his interview with The Guardian yesterday, on the sidelines of a closed-door briefing session by the inter-Burundi dialogue facilitator, an official with the National Liberation Forces (FNL) party of Burundi, Jacques Bigirimana, said it was high time former Tanzanian President, Benjamin William Mkapa stood aside and let Barundians sort out their differences.
Bigirimana made it clear that they were not against the facilitator’s role, but they were expressing their wish to see the facilitator give them ‘more space’ as they sought for a truce in the crisis.
“We want Mkapa to let us sit down with other warring factions without his presence and let us have brotherly talk. That is the only way we will restore peace in our country,” insisted the NFL official.
During an inter Burundi dialogue held in Bujumbura last month, the facilitator was accused of perceived bias by Burundi opposition groups in exile.
The group said that it was not ready to work with him in restoring peace in the troubled East African nation on grounds that he allegedly considered Burundi’s current government legitimate.
The former Tanzanian president was appointed to head the dialogue at the East African Community Heads of State summit that met in Arusha last year.
The retired president discharges his duties under the leadership of Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
Since his appointment, the former president has held three rounds of mediation with the warring factions.
In a report titled The African Union and the Burundi Crisis: Ambition versus Reality, the International Crisis Group (ICG) says that the government in Burundi is currently plotting to change the Constitution and abolish term limits.
President Pierre Nkurunziza's decision to run for a third term sparked civil unrest that caused the deaths of hundreds and forced thousands to flee to neighbouring countries.
And according to the ICG, allowing President Nkurunziza's government to amend the Constitution would keep Burundi in a permanent state of low-intensity violence that could degenerate into another civil war.
Meanwhile, journalists trying to cover the session had a hard time after they were barred from accessing the Mbayumbayu Hall.
An official responsible for media relations at the secretariat, Florian Mutabazi, told the battery of members of the press that he was instructed by one Macocha Tembele, who is a personal assistant to the facilitator, not to avail the journos with accreditation.
As we went to press, it was still unclear if the former Burundi presidents were also part of the briefing.
“We want Mkapa to let us sit down with other warring factions without his presence and let us have brotherly talk. That is the only way we will restore peace in our country,” insisted the NFL official.
During an inter Burundi dialogue held in Bujumbura last month, the facilitator was accused of perceived bias by Burundi opposition groups in exile.
The group said that it was not ready to work with him in restoring peace in the troubled East African nation on grounds that he allegedly considered Burundi’s current government legitimate.
The former Tanzanian president was appointed to head the dialogue at the East African Community Heads of State summit that met in Arusha last year.
The retired president discharges his duties under the leadership of Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
Since his appointment, the former president has held three rounds of mediation with the warring factions.
In a report titled The African Union and the Burundi Crisis: Ambition versus Reality, the International Crisis Group (ICG) says that the government in Burundi is currently plotting to change the Constitution and abolish term limits.
President Pierre Nkurunziza's decision to run for a third term sparked civil unrest that caused the deaths of hundreds and forced thousands to flee to neighbouring countries.
And according to the ICG, allowing President Nkurunziza's government to amend the Constitution would keep Burundi in a permanent state of low-intensity violence that could degenerate into another civil war.
Meanwhile, journalists trying to cover the session had a hard time after they were barred from accessing the Mbayumbayu Hall.
An official responsible for media relations at the secretariat, Florian Mutabazi, told the battery of members of the press that he was instructed by one Macocha Tembele, who is a personal assistant to the facilitator, not to avail the journos with accreditation.
As we went to press, it was still unclear if the former Burundi presidents were also part of the briefing.
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