AFRICA/BURUNDI - Opposition disappointed with African Union visit

Bujumbura (Agenzia Fides) - Organise, as soon as possible, “inclusive dialogue” with all the “major actors” in the crisis, under the aegis contested (at home) of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. This was the important mission announced by the African Union visit sent to Burundi to settle a political crisis regarding the third mandate of President Pierre Nkurunziza.
Burundi’s opposition rejects the result of the African Union mission (comprising the Presidents of South Africa, Mauritania, Senegal, Gabon and the Prime Minister Ethiopia), first of all because it was unable to meet several Opposition exiled members and because it insisted on Museveni, as mediator of the crisis in their country. Museveni has just been re-elected President of Uganda in contested elections, after 30 years in power, and in the eyes of Burundi’s Opposition he would not seem to be the best person to mediate a crisis regarding the claim advanced by Nkurunziza, to a third presidential mandate.
Nkurunziza said in a statement that only “peaceful interlocutors”, will be allowed to participate in the inclusive dialogue proposed by the AU excluding the CNARED platform accused of instigating protests against the presidential mandate and taking part in the unsuccessful coup staged in May 2015.
The AU decided against sending a Peace Force of 5,000 men proposing instead the presence of 100 human rights observers and also 100 disarmed observers to control the border between Burundi and Rwanda whose government is accused of helping Burundi’s anti-Nkurunziza guerrilla groups. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 29/2/2016)

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