Burundi faction leaders agree `unconditionally’ to dialogue

President Yoweri Museveni has assured the people of Burundi and the EAC community that the government of Burundi, opposition political party leaders and civil society organizations have all agreed to continue with the negotiations unconditionally and expeditiously in order to reach an agreement on issues affecting the political situation in Burundi and report back as soon as possible.

Other stakeholders who attended the meeting included the three former Presidents of Burundi namely Domitien Ndayizeye, Sylivestre Ntibantunganya and  Jean Baptiste Bagaza.

The President who has returned home after a two day working visit to Burundi told the closing session this afternoon, that Uganda’s Minister of Defence Dr. Crispus Kiyonga will, in this regard, arrive in Bujumbura Thursday July 16, 2015 to continue facilitating the talks as requested by the East African Community Summit.

The High Level Dialogue that opened Tuesday under the auspices of the East African Community was hosted and facilitated by the EAC secretariat. The meeting was a follow up of the mandate given to President Museveni by the 3rd Extra-Ordinary Summit of the East African Community in Dar-es-Salaam on July 6, 2015; to lead and facilitate the dialogue at the highest level in a bid to find a lasting solution to the current political situation in Burundi.

The EAC leaders also decided to postpone the Presidential election in the country up to July 30, to allow for this process, The New Vision reports.
President Museveni was seen off at Bujumbura International Airport by his host, President Pierre Nkurunziza.

He was received back home by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP)  Okoth Ochola, Commissioner General of Prisons Johnson Byabashaija and Deputy Chief of Defence Forces (DCDF) Maj. Gen. Charles Angina.

UM– USEKE.RW