Burundi gov't to attend Arusha talks over Burundi crisis

Burundi's government said Wednesday it will attend inter-Burundian dialogue scheduled for May 21 to 24 in Arusha, Tanzania -- talks aimed at ending the year-long Burundi political crisis.

"From May 21 to May 24, there will be in Arusha, Tanzania, consultations and not negotiations between different stakeholders with co-facilitator in the Burundian conflict, former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa," said Willy Nyamitwe, senior communication adviser at the Burundian president's office.

According to Nyamitwe, Burundian government delegates and leaders of some political parties and civil society organizations have been invited to the dialogue.

He however reiterated the government would not sit on the same table with "non-peaceful actors".

Mkapa has been appointed as the facilitator for the Burundi peace talks by the regional bloc, East African Community, to which Burundi belongs to.

Mkapa's office late last month delayed the talks which were initially slated for May 2 to 6, saying the postponement would provide time for more consultations between the facilitator and all concerned parties.

The Burundian government previously refused to attend the Arusha dialogue, which failed to resume in January. It claimed it had not been consulted and that it would sit on the same table with "non-peaceful actors".

Burundi slid into unrest in April last year when President Pierre Nkurunziza announced he would run for a third term, which he later won.

His move, described by the opposition as unconstitutional, triggered protests and violence, in which more than 400 people have been killed and some 270,000 people forced to flee to neighboring countries. Endit