Burundi government wants EAC to lead mediation efforts

Inter-Burundi dialogue should be led by a team appointed by the East African Community (EAC) and held after the elections, government Spokesman Philippe Nzobonariba said on Wednesday.

Nzobonariba was speaking on Burundi’s national radio, just three days after the arrival of the new UN mediator for the Burundian crisis Abdoulaye Bathily and five days before legislative and communal elections.
“Concerning the proposed political dialogue, it will continue even after the elections. The government is awaiting for the team appointed by the EAC leaders’ summit to lead the dialogue,” Nzobonariba declared.
He said the new UN mediator “should continue with the wonderful work started by his predecessor and which had been highly appreciated by the international community.”
The two main parties in power, the National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy and the Union for National Progress, have already announced they will not participate in dialogue organized by the new mediator before the elections. The dialogue was equally supposed to discuss the country’s electoral timetable.
According to the new timetable that was approved by President Pierre Nkurunziza on June 10, based on recommendations of EAC leaders, the legislative and communal elections will take place on June 29, presidential elections will take place on July 15 and senatorial elections will take place on July 24.
“The population, political parties and coalitions of parties that had embarked on electoral campaigns are fed up with numerous postponements of the elections,” Nzobonariba said.
However, Burundi’s opposition and the African Union have insisted that the current electoral timetable was unilaterally fixed by the government. Enditem