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UN Security Council delegates start visit to troubled Burundi

Xinhua, January 22, 2016 Adjust font size:

A delegation of the United Nations Security Council arrived Thursday evening in Burundi for a two-day visit to eyewitness the east African country's situation in order to help find ways to get out the crisis.

Upon arrival at Bujumbura International Airport at 17:15 (15:15 GMT), the UN delegates were welcomed by Bujumbura Mayor Freddy Mbonimpa and some diplomats accredited to Burundi.

The UN delegation is made up by 33 senior officials including 15 members of the UN Security Council, other UN officials and Jamal Benomar, the special envoy of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in Burundi.

They were also welcomed by hundreds of citizens who had banners such as "Opposition: Genocide is not a political game,"or"Rwanda: Stop Burundian refugees' military recruitment" or else "Burundi: All challenges have to be faced through the inter-Burundian dialogue."

Riders of motorcycles and bicycles were among the demonstrators who were on the two main roundabouts from Bujumbura International Airport and on both sides of the road from Bujumbura International Airport to the city center.

Meanwhile, Burundian President's Deputy-Spokesman Jean Claude Karerwa told Xinhua that the UN Security Council delegates are expected to meet on Friday Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza in Karusi province, 150 km east of the Burundian capital Bujumbura.

This is the second time the UN Security Council visits Burundi in less than a year.

The east African nation is facing a crisis since April 2015 after President Pierre Nkurunziza announced his bid for a third term in violation of the 2000 Arusha Agreement and the national constitution, according to the opposition.

More than 400 persons have been killed and more than 220,000 others have sought refuge in neighboring countries due to the violence that has continued after Nkurunziza's controversial re-election in July 2015. Endit