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Zuma stuck in Burundi due to aircraft problems

Xinhua, February 27, 2016 Adjust font size:

South African President Jacob Zuma, who was heading a peace mission to Burundi, was unable to leave the country due to aircraft problems, the Presidency said on Saturday.

"President Zuma was unable to leave Burundi when his aircraft Inkwazi developed technical problems," the Presidency said.

Zuma was due to leave Burundi on Friday after completing the visit. He was still in the country on Saturday morning.

As a result, he would miss the 16th Annual National Teaching Awards ceremony in Johannesburg on Sunday, presidential spokesperson Bogani Majola added.

Zuma, who was a mediator during the 2000 peace agreement that ended Burundi's civil war, was mandated by the African Union (AU) to led a high-level delegation to Burundi, comprising five heads of state.

Zuma said on Friday that the delegation had successfully concluded its deliberations in Burundi, where they met the highest authorities including President Pierre Nkurunziza, leaders of political parties as well as religious and civil society leaders.

The delegation urged all parties to work together to find an inclusive political solution to the current crisis, Zuma said.

"We have had very fruitful and robust meetings with a cross section of representatives of Burundi and we have just finished the last meeting with His Excellency President Nkurunziza. All decisions of the visit will be communicated through the appropriate channels in a Communique to be issued," said Zuma.

Violence broke out last April when Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza declared to run for a third time. Hundreds of people have been killed.

Burundi's Parliament has rejected a plan of the AU to deploy peacekeepers to Burundi amid rising insecurity. Enditem