Burundi president: African Union peacekeepers unacceptable

CNARED, a coalition claiming to uphold the Arusha peace agreement which they claim Nkurunziza’s third term violates, were present at the talks.

“Today, Burundi is at the crossroads; both the leaders and people of Burundi will invest in the peace, security, stability and prosperity that they so richly deserve, or with their eyes firmly fixed on the rear driving mirror they will continue to hurtle towards violence, political intolerance and possible civil war”, said Richard Sezibera, secretary general of the East African Community (EAC) bloc.

In May, as street protests against Nkurunziza’s third term bid turned violent, a senior army officer announced that Nkurunziza had been removed from power.

The United Nations says that at least 400 people have been killed and tens of thousands have fled the country.

The 54-member African Union gave Burundi a four-day deadline on December 17 to accept a 5,000-strong force to halt the violence, pledging to send troops despite Burundi saying it was opposed to an “invasion force”.

In an address to the nation Wednesday, President Pierre Nkurunziza said the peacekeepers’ presence in Burundi would be a violation of the country’s sovereignty as there is no active fighting in Burundi and because there is a government in place.

African countries have a responsibility to stop Burundi from sliding further down the precipice and should allow no one, Nkurunziza included, to stop them from accomplishing the noble mission.

“Everyone has to respect Burundi borders”, Nkurunziza said in comments broadcast on state radio.

The violence began after Mr Nkurunziza announced he would seek a third term in office.

Discussions have been held in neighbouring Uganda with more talks originally planned for early in the new year.

There are rising fears that the crisis could descend Burundi back into civil war.

“All those whose action could jeopardize the inter-Burundian dialogue, including attacks by armed groups against governmental facilities and other targets, as well as refusal to respond to the invitation of the mediator, shall be subjected to sanctions”, Dlamini-Zuma said in a statement.

As conflict in Burundi escalates along the same ethnic lines that fueled genocide in neighboring Rwanda, Burundi’s president on Wednesday warned the world to stay out, threatening to attack any peacekeepers dispatched by regional countries.

Urging the Burundian government to focus on substance, Museveni stressed that: “We must encourage truth and reconciliation…” Over 200,000 people have also been displaced by the conflict.

Representatives of the government and the political opposition are slated to meet January 6 in Arusha, Tanzania, to discuss ways to avoid more of the political violence that has plagued the country since late April.