Talks aimed to end political violence in
strife-torn Burundi resume in Arusha next week under former Tanzania President
Benjamin Mkapa. Sources close to the office of the facilitator of
Inter-Burundi Dialogue said some opposition leaders who fled the country after
being implicated in the the May 2015 coup attempt against the government
of President Pierre Nkurunziza had not been invited.
"They will not show up because they are
wanted at home for subversive activities at home," a source speaking on
condition of anonymity told the Daily Monitor, adding that the
exiled politicians Bujumbura authorities allege were behind the 2015/2016
bloody protests and resultant killings, are also not expected to join the
talks.
A statement issued yesterday by the office
of the facilitator through the East African Community (EAC) announced the
commencement of the formal dialogue scheduled for February 16th to 18th at the
Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC).
The convening of the session followed what
was described as "rigorous consultations" the facilitator made
with various stakeholders within and outside Burundi. After that, Mkapa
and his team identified an eight-point agenda raised by all
stakeholders and agreed to be the main sticking points which he reported to the summit
of the EAC heads of state in September last year.
"This eight-point agenda,
which will form the thrust of the dialogue and subsequent negotiations, in no
particular order of importance", the statement said.
The main sticking points include security and
commitment to end all forms of violence; commitment to the rule of law
and an end to impunity; status of the implementation of the Arusha Peace
and Reconciliation Agreement; strengthening of democratic culture
and opening up of political space; and social and humanitarian issues.
Others are, implementation of the EAC summit decision
of July 6th, 2015 on the Formation of the Government of National Unity; impact
of the crisis on the economy; and the relationship between
Burundi, its neighbours and other international partners.
In the initial phase of this dialogue
which is by and large a political process, the facilitator will invite
some of the political parties and important political actors to whom
he will introduce the unpacked eight-point agenda to determine areas of
convergence and divergence.
Other stakeholders like the civil society
organisations, religious groups, as well as women and youth will be invited in
later sessions for a similar purpose.
It is the expectation of the facilitator
that, in this initial dialogue, inputs from participant will draw up an outline
of the would-be agreement to be continuously refined until it fully agreed upon
by all stakeholders and can be signed as a final agreement hopefully in
June, 2017 as he envisages.
On January 16th this year, Mr Mkapa met a
section of externally-based Burundi opposition politicians and other
stakeholders involved in the peace dialogue but who could not attend the
session held in Bujumbura last December.
Among those who were invited were 24 members
of CNARED, a coalition of leaders opposed to President Nkurunziza's rule. Only
six responded to the invitation. The group has been critical of the way the
former Tanzanian head of state is handling the talks and has accused him of
siding with the current government in Bujumbura which they see as being
illegitimate.
But Frederic Bamvuginyumvira, the chairman of
the opposition Frodebu party said Mr Mkapa this time around was considerate to
the exiled Burundi opposition.
"We asked the facilitator that the
Burundi government and members of the opposition should agree on the
composition of this government of national union and its mission," he
said. Another opposition leader for the FNL party Jacques Bigirimana
remarked; "Burundians must understand that it is time to choose peace
because it is priceless."
The turmoil in Burundi has claimed the lives
of about 500 people and led to over 250,000 fleeing to neighbouring countries -
mostly Tanzania and Rwanda - as refugees.
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