Burundi wants repatriation of external dialogue aimed at solving political crisis: First Vice-President

BUJUMBURA, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Burundian First Vice-President Gaston Sindimwo on Tuesday said the Burundian government wants the repatriation of the Inter-Burundi Dialogue, aimed at finding a solution to the political crisis in Burundi.

The Inter-Burundi Dialogue is a process led by East African Community (EAC) under the mediatorship of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. EAC also appointed former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa as the facilitator of the dialogue to support the Museveni.

Sindimwo said the government wants the dialogue to be repatriated on the Burundian ground, adding that the government will always support the dialogue held by political parties.

"We encourage political parties to sit together under the auspices of the facilitator. We will be there as the government to accompany the facilitator in his activities. And if an agreement is reached, we will implement it," he added.

During the summit of the EAC heads of state and government held last week in the Ugandan capital Kampala, the mandate of the facilitator was renewed in order to allow him to continue his assignment as the facilitator in the Inter-Burundi Dialogue.

Launched in December 2015, the Inter-Burundi Dialogue talks at the external level under the EAC auspices has made no concrete progress.

Burundi plunged into a crisis in April 2015 when Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza decided to run his controversial third term bid, which he won in July 2015. His candidature, which was opposed by the opposition and civil society groups, resulted in a wave of protests, violence and even a failed coup in May 2015. Enditem