Burundi talks to resume amid appeals for veto on AU plan

Bujumbura, Saturday. The Burundi dialogue is set to resume on December 28, 2015 following calls by the international community to tame the escalating violence that has seen more than 300 killed since April.

Uganda’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Henry Okello Oryem said that President Yoweri Museveni, the mediator in the talks, is available to lead the talks.

“On Monday, we will re-launch the dialogue at State House Entebbe and then later in January the talks will be conducted in Arusha,” a diplomatic source said.

The Burundi government is trying to lobby for the opposition to be invited in their respective political parties rather than CNARED (Council for the Observance of the Constitution, Human Rights and the Arusha Peace Accord) a coalition of the opposition parties.

“CNARED is lobbying to be invited and the government is pushing for non-recognition of the party as it is not legally recognised in Burundi,” said the diplomat on condition of anonymity. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday sent his advisor Jamal Benomar to Kigali to meet President Paul Kagame in efforts to find a lasting solution to the Burundi crisis. READ: UN chief sends envoy to Burundi after ‘chilling’ violence

The Burundian government had accused Rwanda of sheltering rebels and militarily training Burundian refugees, which has soured the two countries’ relations.

Meanwhile, Bujumbura is counting on the UN Security Council to overturn a decision by the African Union to send 5,000 peacekeepers to the country after its parliament voted against the deployment. (NMG)