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Burundi gov't welcomes UN Security Council's resolution to designate new facilitator

Xinhua, August 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Burundian government has welcomed the resolution of the United Nations Security Council taken Monday on designating a new facilitator for Burundi's crisis, Burundian Government Spokesman Philippe Nzobonariba told Xinhua on Tuesday.

"We (the Burundian government) have never refused a facilitator sent by the United Nations (UN). If the UN sends a new facilitator, he will be welcome. But this has to be done in respect of domestic laws and international conventions regulating countries," said Burundian Government Spokesman Philippe Nzobonariba.

In May and June, the UN sent two facilitators to mediate the Burundian political and security crisis caused by the third term bid of Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza.

The first one was Algerian national Said Djinnit who was rejected by the opposition accusing him of siding with the government.

The second one was Senegalese national Abdoulaye Bathily whose facilitation initiatives were rejected by the ruling party, the National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) and its allies.

After the UN initiative failed, the East African Community (EAC) designated Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to continue the facilitation, but talks stalled again when the Burundian government refused to postpone the presidential poll to July 30 as suggested by the EAC facilitation, arguing that it would be a violation of the national constitution if the presidential is held at the suggested date.

Since the beginning of protests on April 26, one day after the designation of Nkurunziza to run the presidential election, more than 80 persons were killed in protests against the third term bid of Burundian President Nkurunziza that the opposition said was a violation of the national constitution and the 2000 Arusha Agreement.

However, the country's constitutional court ruled that Nkurunziza's 2005-2010 should not be considered as a term because he was elected by the parliament and not directly by citizens. Endit