Facilitator postpones Burundi talks

Inter-Burundian talks that were expected to take place on May 2-6 in Arusha, Tanzania have been postponed, the office of the facilitator in the Burundi dialogue said Friday afternoon in a press release.

The office of former Tanzanian president also full-time facilitator in Burundi talks Benjamin William Mkapa, postponed the talks following consultations he had with East African Community (EAC) Secretary General Liberat Mfumukeko.

"Following consultations between the facilitator in the Burundi dialogue, former Tanzanian President Benjamin William Mkapa and East African Community (EAC) Secretary General Liberat Mfumukeko, the resumption of the dialogue which was due on May 2-6 has now been postponed," said the press release.

The press release added that the postponement will "provide time to the facilitator to make further consultations" with stakeholders and all concerned parties.

It further said that it is foreseen that the dialogue will take place during the third week of May.

Earlier this week, the Burundian government said that it would not participate in the Arusha dialogue that was due next week, arguing that it had not been consulted.

The inter-Burundian dialogue at the external level failed to resume in January when the Burundian government boycotted talks in Arusha, Tanzania, arguing that it could not sit "on the same table" with what it called "non-peaceful" stakeholders.

Burundi is facing a year-long political crisis that broke out since April 2015 following the announcement by Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza that he would be seeking a third term.

His candidature, which was opposed by the opposition and civil society groups, resulted into a wave of protests, violence and even a failed coup on May 13, 2015.

Over 400 persons are reported to have been killed since then while some 240,000 citizens sought exile in neighboring countries.

Source: XINHUA