Burundi peace talks start amid divisions, protests

[mchambawima1]

By Elias Biryabarema9 hours ago

ENTEBBE (Reuters) - Burundi's government and opposition kicked off peace talks on Monday, though one senior member of the state delegation almost immediately threatened to pull out if he saw participants in a failed coup on the other side of the table.

Regional powers called both sides to Uganda for discussions to end months of fighting, which began in April when President Pierre Nkurunziza's plan to seek a third term triggered street protests and, a month later, an attempted putsch.

Continued clashes and gun attacks in the central African nation have unnerved a region where memories of the 1994 genocide in neighbouring Rwanda are still raw.

There has also been no sign of a rapprochement between the government and opposition groups who say Nkurunziza's re-election bid broke constitutional term limits and a peace deal that ended a decade-long civil war in 2005.

Nkurunziza, who went on to win a disputed vote in July, points to a court ruling allowing a third term.

The ruling CNDD-FDD party "can't be part of the talks if those who took part of the failed coup are involved," Victor Burikukiye, a member of the ruling party delegation, said as the talks opened.

It was not immediately clear who would participate from the opposition.

The African Union said this month it was ready to send 5,000 peacekeepers to protect civilians in Burundi, something the government has rejected as a violation of its sovereignty.

More than a hundred Nkurunziza supporters gathered at the Rwandan, Belgian and European Union embassies in the Burundian capital Bujumbura to protest against the plan.

Monday's talks in Uganda drew Burundian government and opposition delegations, representatives from the African Union and the United Nations, and Western diplomats. The next phase of the talks will be held at the headquarters of the East African Community bloc in Arusha, Tanzania.

"I appeal to you... to sit down and have a political solution so that you save your people from that suffering which they're going through now," Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said as he opened the session.

International monitors say they fear Burundi could be headed to civil war.

The United Nations estimates 400 people have already been killed. More than 220,000 people have fled Burundi since April, and Rwanda, which has similar ethnic faultlines, says more than 73,000 Burundians are now on its soil.

(Reporting by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Edith Honan)

 

[Gamba la Nyoka]

Both Tutsi and the Hutu Voted for President Nkurunzinza, they are all one and they are united.
The problem is with the terrorists who see no chance of taking power through ballot box and hence opt for violence thinking that by storming millitary barracks they will be able to overthrow the democratically elected president.
The Burundi army is composed of both ethnic groups, the Tutsi and the Hutu, hence when the terrorists storm the millitary barracks they just shoot indiscrimnately, killing soldiers from both ethnic groups.
What the Burundi government is doing is to maintain order, this is the first most important task of any state.

Terrorists mutilated the Arusha accord when they staged the failed coup, Coup was not the part of Arusha accord, neither killing Government officials and key military personel wasn't sanctioned by Arusha accord.

Therefore, All people who wish peace for Burundi should Support all efforts taken by Burundi government to fight terror

I advice all people who have any legitimate claims to use Courts to persue justice instead of Terror tactics.

Nkurunzinza is rightfully elected as a president because the Burundi supreme court taking into consideration of both the constitution and the Arusha accords ruled in his favor to stand again, this was followed by people voting for him enmasse.

Let the will of the Majority in Burundi prevail, not the terrorists and their pay masters in Kigali

 

[Prof]

Both Tutsi and the Hutu Voted for President Nkurunzinza, they are all one and they are united.
The problem is with the terrorists who see no chance of taking power through ballot box and hence opt for violence thinking that by storming millitary barracks they will be able to overthrow the democratically elected president.
The Burundi army is composed of both ethnic groups, the Tutsi and the Hutu, hence when the terrorists storm the millitary barracks they just shoot indiscrimnately, killing soldiers from both ethnic groups.
What the Burundi government is doing is to maintain order, this is the first most important task of any state.

Terrorists mutilated the Arusha accord when they staged the failed coup, Coup was not the part of Arusha accord, neither killing Government officials and key military personel wasn't sanctioned by Arusha accord.

Therefore, All people who wish peace for Burundi should Support all efforts taken by Burundi government to fight terror

I advice all people who have any legitimate claims to use Courts to persue justice instead of Terror tactics.

Nkurunzinza is rightfully elected as a president because the Burundi supreme court taking into consideration of both the constitution and the Arusha accords ruled in his favor to stand again, this was followed by people voting for him enmasse.

Let the will of the Majority in Burundi prevail, not the terrorists and their pay masters in Kigali

Gamba la Nyoka, think again...!!which legitimate government are you talking about? how legitimate? who are those terrorist? which war of terror are you talking about? and who wage war against it? and how and why? do you know democracy?- what about its principles and characteristics accepted at global level?....do you think Nkurunziza complied to it?....
Mkuu, ongeza maarifa zaidi kwenye diplomasia na foreign politics....Peace

 

[Gamba la Nyoka]

Gamba la Nyoka, think again...!!which legitimate government are you talking about? how legitimate? who are those terrorist? which war of terror are you talking about? and who wage war against it? and how and why? do you know democracy?- what about its principles and characteristics accepted at global level?....do you think Nkurunziza complied to it?....
Mkuu, ongeza maarifa zaidi kwenye diplomasia na foreign politics....PeaceView attachment 313635

Who sets the Standards of what you have mentioned, you?

I'll tell you!, Based on Burundi Supreme court, a highest body for the Interpretation of Laws in Burundi gave a verdict that Nkurunzinza had the right to contest again. Now if you don't agree with the court of Law You go back to the Court, you just dont attack the military barracks and kill government officials.

Secondly, The Burundi election Commision passed Nkurunzinza name as a legitimate contester. It seems these terrorists dont respect any Institution established by Law.

And Lastly , People with high turn out voted, and the majority elected Nkurunzinza, So why the terrorists dont atleast respect the choice of the people?.

The only place these thugs would have their claims legitimately heard, is in the Court of Law, they dont go to courts, they even chose to Stage a coup against a legitimately elected Burundi government. So how can you deal with these kind of people?, Give in to their demands?.

Honestly If you appease the terrorists they will always come back to haunt you!

 

[mchambawima1]

Who sets the Standards of what you have mentioned, you?

I tell you, Based on Burundi Supreme court, a a highest body for the Interpretation of Laws in Burundi gave a verdict that Nkurunzinza had the right to contest again. Now if you don't agree with the court of Law You go back to the Court, you just dont attack the military barracks and kill government officials.

Second The Burundi election Commision passed Nkurunzinza name as a legitimate contester. It seems these terrorists dont respect any Institution established by Law.

And Lastly , People with high turn out voted, and the majority elected Nkurunzinza, So why the terrorists dont atleast respect the choice of the people?.

The only place these thugs would have their claims legitimately heard, is in the Court of Law, they dont go to courts, they even chose to Stage a coup against a legitimately elected Burundi government. So how can you deal with these kind of people?, Give in to their demands?.

Honestly If you appease the terrorists they will always come back to haunt you!

which planet are you living in? I have already explained many times what have got us hear and AU is telling him to go back to Arusha on 6Jan, he refuses... according to AU, no Arusha = sanctions, can you imagine how Burundi will become, given the fact that the government is now slashing healthcare and education funding by 90% in its 2016 budget! just accept and let it go man... your guy is a nightmare.

 

[Gamba la Nyoka]

which planet are you living in? I have already explained many times what have got us hear and AU is telling him to go back to Arusha on 6Jan, he refuses... according to AU, no Arusha = sanctions, can you imagine how Burundi will become, given the fact that the government is now slashing healthcare and education funding by 90% in its 2016 budget! just accept and let it go man... your guy is a nightmare.

NOW ATLEAST THEY ARE MAKING SENSE, DIALOGUE YES...MILITARY INTERVENTION BIG NO!!!!
NKURUNZINZA IS THERE TO STAY WHETHER YOU AND KIGALI LIKE IT OR NOT!

 

[mchambawima1]

NOW ATLEAST THEY ARE MAKING SENSE, DIALOGUE YES...MILITARY INTERVENTION BIG NO!!!!
NKURUNZINZA IS THERE TO STAY WHETHER YOU AND KIGALI LIKE IT OR NOT!

wow... good luck! let us see...