RUCCI
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 6, 2011
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President Yoweri Museveni has been appointed by the 3rd Extra-ordinary Summit of the Heads of State of the East African community (EAC) to lead and facilitate dialogue at the highest level in a bid to find a lasting solution to the current political situation in Burundi.
The Summit also decided to postpone the Burundi Presidential Election from 15th to 30th July 2015.
This was contained in a joint communiqué that was issued at the end of a one-day meeting of the Heads of State of the East African Community member countries that took place Monday in the Tanzanian capital of Dar-es-Salaam.
The Summit, under the East African Community Chairman, President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, was attended by President Yoweri Museveni. Kenya, Rwanda and Burundi were represented by their respective Ministers.
The Summit was also attended by delegations from Angola, South Africa and the African Union.
In the communiqué that was read by the Secretary General of the East African Community, Mr. Richard Sezibera on behalf of the East African Community leaders, the regional member countries of the EAC unanimously nominated President Museveni to "lead the dialogue at the highest level among the warring political factions in Burundi with a view to getting a lasting solution to the Burundi problems and ensuring that peace returns to the county."
The leaders also asked the government of Burundi to "disarm Imbonerakure all armed groups that are allied to political parties or groups in the country and noted that the African Union should oversee the disarmament process."
The Imbonerakure militia has been accused of committing heinous crimes against opposition and creating an atmosphere of error as the country prepares for presidential elections.
The Heads of State Summit further decided that the Presidential Election be postponed from 15th July to 30th July 2015 to allow the facilitator, President Museveni, engage the different political players in Burundi before the elections are held.
The European Union which funds almost half of the Burundi budget recently described as a "serious matter," the East African country's decision to ignore the latest proposal of the international facilitation led by the African Union, the East African Community, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region and the UN to postpone the elections.
Catherine Ray, the Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said in a statement on Monday that, "The organization of legislative elections on 29 June without establishing the minimum requirements to ensure their credibility, transparency and inclusiveness, can only exacerbate the deep crisis in Burundi."
The Tanzania Summit also resolved that whichever party wins the Presidential elections in Burundi, "should form a government of national unity to include those who would have participated in those elections and those who would not have participated with a possibility of providing a special seat, where necessary," and that the "East African community must send the election observers."
The East African leaders further said that the government that wins the election must respect the Arusha Peace Accord and commit not to amend the National Constitution.
The summit decided to create a joint verification mission of the community to verify the presence the element of the FDRN forces in Burundi and strongly appealed to the African Union to endorse the decisions of the Summit of the East African leaders.
Civil unrest erupted on 26 April in Bujumbura after the ruling CNDD-FDD party elected President Pierre Nkurunziza on 25 April as its candidate for then-scheduled 26 June presidential election.
Mr. Nkurunziza has been in office for two terms since 2005, and a broad array of actors warned that an attempt to seek a third term was unconstitutional and contrary to the spirit of the 2000 Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi that ended a decade of civil war in the country.
Opposition have since vowed to fight on until Nkurunziza quits.
President Museveni was later seen off at Dar-es-Salaam International Airport by the Tanzanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Bernard Membe, the Tanzanian High Commissioner to Uganda Mr. Kombo and a number of Senior Tanzanian government officials.
The President was received on arrival at Entebbe International Airport this evening by Vice-President Mr. Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, the Head of Public Service, Mr. John Mitala and Senior Security officials.
Source: Museveni to Mediate Burundi Crisis, Poll Date Extended
The Summit also decided to postpone the Burundi Presidential Election from 15th to 30th July 2015.
This was contained in a joint communiqué that was issued at the end of a one-day meeting of the Heads of State of the East African Community member countries that took place Monday in the Tanzanian capital of Dar-es-Salaam.
The Summit, under the East African Community Chairman, President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, was attended by President Yoweri Museveni. Kenya, Rwanda and Burundi were represented by their respective Ministers.
The Summit was also attended by delegations from Angola, South Africa and the African Union.
In the communiqué that was read by the Secretary General of the East African Community, Mr. Richard Sezibera on behalf of the East African Community leaders, the regional member countries of the EAC unanimously nominated President Museveni to "lead the dialogue at the highest level among the warring political factions in Burundi with a view to getting a lasting solution to the Burundi problems and ensuring that peace returns to the county."
The leaders also asked the government of Burundi to "disarm Imbonerakure all armed groups that are allied to political parties or groups in the country and noted that the African Union should oversee the disarmament process."
The Imbonerakure militia has been accused of committing heinous crimes against opposition and creating an atmosphere of error as the country prepares for presidential elections.
The Heads of State Summit further decided that the Presidential Election be postponed from 15th July to 30th July 2015 to allow the facilitator, President Museveni, engage the different political players in Burundi before the elections are held.
The European Union which funds almost half of the Burundi budget recently described as a "serious matter," the East African country's decision to ignore the latest proposal of the international facilitation led by the African Union, the East African Community, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region and the UN to postpone the elections.
Catherine Ray, the Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said in a statement on Monday that, "The organization of legislative elections on 29 June without establishing the minimum requirements to ensure their credibility, transparency and inclusiveness, can only exacerbate the deep crisis in Burundi."
The Tanzania Summit also resolved that whichever party wins the Presidential elections in Burundi, "should form a government of national unity to include those who would have participated in those elections and those who would not have participated with a possibility of providing a special seat, where necessary," and that the "East African community must send the election observers."
The East African leaders further said that the government that wins the election must respect the Arusha Peace Accord and commit not to amend the National Constitution.
The summit decided to create a joint verification mission of the community to verify the presence the element of the FDRN forces in Burundi and strongly appealed to the African Union to endorse the decisions of the Summit of the East African leaders.
Civil unrest erupted on 26 April in Bujumbura after the ruling CNDD-FDD party elected President Pierre Nkurunziza on 25 April as its candidate for then-scheduled 26 June presidential election.
Mr. Nkurunziza has been in office for two terms since 2005, and a broad array of actors warned that an attempt to seek a third term was unconstitutional and contrary to the spirit of the 2000 Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi that ended a decade of civil war in the country.
Opposition have since vowed to fight on until Nkurunziza quits.
President Museveni was later seen off at Dar-es-Salaam International Airport by the Tanzanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Bernard Membe, the Tanzanian High Commissioner to Uganda Mr. Kombo and a number of Senior Tanzanian government officials.
The President was received on arrival at Entebbe International Airport this evening by Vice-President Mr. Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, the Head of Public Service, Mr. John Mitala and Senior Security officials.
Source: Museveni to Mediate Burundi Crisis, Poll Date Extended