Mkapa cautions on Burundi

Tanzania's ex-president Benjamin Mkapa with Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza in Bujumbara. Photo/AFP

FORMER Tanzanian President who is the Facilitator of the Inter-Burundi Dialogue, Benjamin  Mkapa has reiterated his call to all Parties to adhere to non-violent approach in solving the political crisis in the country.

Mkapa has also urged the authorities and political actors to safeguard the gains of the EAC led process and Government efforts to stabilize Burundi.

This is contained in his update to stakeholders of the Inter-Burundi Dialogue issued today (December 1).

"The facilitator wishes to acknowledge that since his appeal in May 2016; to parties to the conflict to desist from violent acts and give dialogue a chance, there has been a noticeable improvement on the security situation in Burundi," the statement said.

"The facilitator will continue to urge all parties to adhere to this non-violent approach to solving the political crisis. The improved security situation in Burundi has also been echoed by the international community," it added.

The statement said that at its 17th extraordinary session held on September 8, 2016 in Dar es Salaam, the EAC summit of heads of state, among others, received and considered the progress report on the Inter Burundian dialogue from the facilitator.

"The facilitator's report highlighted issues for consideration if sustainable peace and stability is to be restored in Burundi. The summit adopted the recommendations of the facilitator on the way forward and re-emphasized the need for ownership and leadership of the process by the region in all aspects," it said.

Based on the summit decision, a roadmap for the Burundi dialogue process was developed and presented to the mediator, President Yoweri Museveni on November 2, 2016, it said adding that the roadmap provides for a series of engagements between December 2016 and June 2017 that will culminate into an agreement.

The statement revealed that in implementing the roadmap, Mkapa will in due course be visiting the Republic of Burundi to confer with President Pierre Nkunziza and also consult other significant political players.

"This will lay the foundation for a series of both formal and informal engagements with and among the various stakeholders, in and outside Burundi and also with international actors."

"In undertaking this process, regular consultations will continue to take place with the mediator, the EAC summit of heads of state, the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), the AU and the UN with a view to collectively assisting Burundians in the process to seek sustainable Peace and Security."

Also, the statement pointed out that the facilitator will maintain the consultative relationship developed with the various special envoys and representatives supportive of the process.

"It is important that as this process proceeds, and for which the Barundi and the EAC Citizens will continue to be briefed on the progress, all parties should strive to avoid actions and utterances that are not helpful to the healing process and remain seized of the commitment to a political process," the statement issued by the Office of the Facilitator of the Inter-Burundi Dialogue said.