East African mediators to convene Burundi dialogue next week

The regional mediation body on Burundi turmoil is expected to hold the Second Round of the Inter-Burundi Dialogue next week, a senior official of East African Community said Friday.

The dialogue will be held on July 12-14 in Arusha, northern Tanzania, said Owora Richard Othieno, EAC Head of Communications and Public Affairs unit.

Key stakeholders in the crisis include representatives of the Burundian government, former heads of state, representatives of political parties, religious leaders, civil society organizations, women, and youth, Chamber of Commerce and the Burundi society in the diaspora.

"During interactions with the above-mentioned stakeholders, a number of substantive issues emerged concerning, among others; the status and implementation of the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi, the Constitution of Burundi, the security situation, political and democratic space, state of economy and the role of the East African Community member countries as well as other neighbors," the official in a statement.

"There is, therefore, the need to discuss substantively and, more importantly, to agree on a common basis for stability, development and the future of Burundi. In this regard, the objective of the forthcoming discussions will be to validate these findings, to prioritize them, and eventually set the agenda for a meaningful dialogue," Othieno said.

In May, the leading facilitator of the Inter-Burundi Dialogue, former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa hosted a four-day Inter-Burundi Dialogue, in an effort to calm the political situation in the east African nation.

Burundi plunged into turmoil in April last year when the country's embattled leader announced his intention of running for a third term in office, which some people believed was unconstitutional. Endit