Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza shakes hands with Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ambassador Liberata Mulamula when she arrived in Burundi for talks. PHOTO | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
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A team of ministers from the East Africa region and South Africa have presented to Burundi President Mr Pierre Nkurunziza, recommendations by the summit of Heads of State responding to the political crisis in the country.
Dar es Salaam. A team of ministers from the East Africa region and South Africa have presented to Burundi President Mr Pierre Nkurunziza, recommendations by the summit of Heads of State responding to the political crisis in the country.
The recommendations were drafted during the recent extra-ordinary meeting in Dar es Salaam as part of diplomatic efforts to try to diffuse the Burundi crisis sparked by the president’s resolve to run for a third term in office.
The EAC Presidents want the planned elections in the tiny country postponed to create a conducive environment. They also want talks held among the worrying parties and emergency measures be taken to protect refugees.
The ministers held the talks with Mr Nkurunziza on Monday. They were led by Tanzania’s minster for East African Cooperation Dr Harrison Mwakyembe who is also the Chairman of the regional ministers’ council, according to a statement sent to the newsroom yesterday.
The team consisted of Mr Shem Bageine Uganda’s minister for East African Affairs who was accompanied by Mr Philemon Mateke the minister of state responsible for cooperation.
Others were South Africa’s deputy minister of defence Ms Elen Molekane as well as Tanzania’s foreign ministry Permanent Secretary Ambassador Liberata Mulamula.
Rwanda and Kenya were represented by their ambassadors in Burundi and the EAC general secretary was represented by his deputy.
The Burundi government side was represented by the minister for East African Affairs Mr Leontine Nzeyimana and Home affairs minister Mr Edourd Nduwimana.
President Nkurunziza said he welcomed the recommendations by the EAC heads, saying he has already started to implement them. He however, did not mention anything on the appeal from other parties to stand down.
He said about 80 percent of the recommendations have already been implemented.
