UN-facilitated consultative political dialogue resumes in Burundi

The relevant parties in Burundi on Thursday resumed their political dialogue in a bid to resolve their differences through peaceful means in talks facilitated by the UN secretary-general's special envoy for the Great Lakes region, Said Djinnit, a UN spokesman told reporters here.

The consultative political dialogue involved Burundian stakeholders, including representatives of the Burundian government, opposition parties and religious organizations, deputy UN spokesman Farhan Haq said at a daily news briefing here.

"It is critical that all parties participate in the dialogue so that it can help defuse tensions, and lead to a consensus on the steps necessary to create a conducive environment for peaceful, credible and inclusive elections in Burundi," Haq said.

"It is also essential that the government, with the cooperation of all other actors, urgently creates the conditions for the electoral process to move forward smoothly and peacefully and that all actors recommit to non-violence," he said, adding that Said Djinnit continues to work closely with the region, including with the high level delegations currently in Bujumbura.

Meanwhile, following a cholera outbreak among Burundian refugees gathered along the shores of Lake Tanganyika, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has rushed relief supplies to the northwestern border with Tanzania.

The outbreak has so far claimed 27 lives, Haq said, adding that Burundi's current unrest has forced more than 110,000 people to flee to neighboring countries.

On May 14, the United Nations Security Council slammed unrest in Burundi and "those who seek to seize power by unlawful means," after an attempted coup broke out in the African country. The 15- member UN body called for "the swift return of the rule of law, and the holding of credible elections" after the closed-door consultation meeting.

Violent protests erupted after Burundi's ruling party nominated incumbent President Pierre Nkurunziza in April as its candidate to run for the presidential election scheduled for June 26. Nkurunziza is on his second term as president. His opponents maintain that his candidacy for a third term would be a violation of the country's 2005 constitution.

Burundi plunged into chaos Wednesday as former head of Burundi' s National Intelligence Major General Godefroid Niyombare announced in a radio station that the army had overthrown the president and stakeholders were working on a transitional government.

At the time of the coup attempt, Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza was on the way to Tanzania to attend the East African Community extraordinary summit to discuss the political stand-off in his country. Endite