The 19th summit of the East African community was held this week in Uganda. Burundian presidents Pierre Nkurunziza and Rwandan Paul Kagame were absent, while President Salva Kiir was present.
A summit focused more specifically on health and infrastructure. But among the other issues on the agenda: Burundi, of which Uganda is officially the mediator in the crisis and whose progress remains very limited.
Benjamin Mkapa, the facilitator of the Burundian mediation, gave his report yesterday to the East African delegation. His main conclusion: the Burundian government is still not ready to integrate the different actors of the crisis in the discussions.
“President Mkapa’s report indicates that there are still many challenges to rally President Nkurunziza and the opposition leader. The government must open up a little and allow the participation of all parties to start negotiating a solution to the problem of Burundi,” said Oryem Okello, Ugandan Minister of Foreign Affairs.
A mediation stopped, so much so that Benjamin Mkapa wanted to resign. The East African community has asked him to continue its mission but on the side, this does not engage in any further discussions.
“The summit considered the risk of losing control of the file,” said Alain Aimé Nyamitwe, Burundian foreign minister….. continues “And the consequences that could have brought not only to the process but also to the region in general. And the decisions that were made were based on that.
Now, what is the position of the Burundian government? It seems to me that it might be a bit too early to say. In any case I have already reported, I am waiting for the official reaction.”
After the official closing of the summit, the Burundian Vice President met the Ugandan President in private. In particular, the Arusha
