UN chief says Burundian crisis can only be solved through dialogue

Welcoming Burundian peace talks held in Arusha, Tanzania, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Friday that a solution to political crisis in Burundi can only be found through inclusive dialogue process.

From May 21-24, the inter-Burundi dialogue was resumed in Arusha under the auspices of the facilitator of the East African Community, Benjamin William Mkapa, former president of Tanzania.

The Arusha meetings were held with some of the key opposition politicians missing. Mkapa has promised to meet all stakeholders who did not attend the meeting.

"The Secretary-General fully supports regional efforts aimed at fostering a peaceful settlement to the crisis and reiterates the readiness of the United Nations to provide technical and substantive backing to the facilitation," said a statement released by Ban's spokesperson.

Burundi is facing a year-long political crisis that broke out since April 2015 following the announcement by Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza that he would be seeking a third term.

Nkurunziza's candidature was opposed by the opposition and civil society groups, resulting in a wave of protests, violence and even a failed coup on May 13, 2015.

Over 400 people are reported to have been killed since then while some 240,000 citizens sought exile in neighboring countries. Enditem