Regional security chiefs meet over Burundi

By David Lumu

An extra-ordinary meeting of defence ministers from member states of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) takes place on Wednesday in Angola to discuss the ongoing political impasse in Burundi over changes in the country’s constitution.

Tuesday security and intelligence chiefs from ICGLR member states also met in Luanda, Angola and discussed the Burundi question, among other regional issues.

Currently, Burundi is embroiled in violent clashes on the streets of Bujumbura between security forces and protesters, who have in the second week running, revolted against President Pierre Nkurunziza’s third term presidential bid.

According to a statement issued by the ICGLR communication officer, Macdonald Mwakasendile, the defence ministers will consider the report security and intelligence chiefs on how to move on Burundi.

The defence ministers will also discuss the developments in the conflict-riddled Central Africa Republic, South Sudan and parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, the minister of defence is expected to represent Uganda.

The meeting will be chaired by the President of Angola, Jos Eduardo Dos Santos, who on May 7 sent a special message to Nkurunzinza on the current situation in Burundi.

Mwakasendile said defence ministers will discuss the “security and humanitarian situation in the region with special focus on Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic republic of Congo, Republic of South Sudan and the menace of terrorism.”

After the meeting of defence minister, the ICGLR will hold a special summit of Heads of States to discuss security situation in the region.

Member states of ICGLR include; Uganda, Angola, Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Congo Brazzaville, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia and South Sudan.

During last week’s working tour in the U.S, President Yoweri Museveni held talks with President Barrack Obama’s national security adviser, Suzan Rice, on conflicts in the Great Lakes Region.

Since December 2013, South Sudan has been engulfed into a power-struggle conflict pitting President Salva Kiir against his former vice-president Dr. Riek Machar.

In Somalia, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), the UPDF is working with troops from other countries to keep peace and re-build the war-torn country, which is acting as terrorism nursery bed.

Similar efforts are being applied to solve the Central African Republic conflict by flushing out rebel groups such as the Lord’s Resistance Army that is led by the Uganda elusive rebel kingpin Joseph Kony.