East African leaders have urged Burundi’s president to postpone elections due in June.
The leaders who attended a regional summit to discuss the political crisis that has engulfed Burundi also want all violence to stop.
“The summit, concerned at the impasse in Burundi, strongly calls for a long postponement of the elections not less than a month and a half,” the East African Community (EAC) said in a statement read out by Richard Sezibera, its secretary general, after the meeting of regional leaders in Tanzania.
The statement called “on all parties to stop violence,” for the “disarmament of all armed youth groups” – a clear reference to ruling party supporters accused of attacking opponents – and for “the creation of conditions for the return of refugees” who have fled the turmoil.
Violence erupted in Burundi after the ruling party designated President Pierre Nkurunziza as its candidate for the upcoming elections.
Mr Nkurunziza himself said he would ago ahead to vie for a third term, something that the opposition and civil rights activists say is unconstitutional.
The crisis in Burundi erupted after the ruling party designated Mr Nkurunziza, in power for 10 years, as its candidate for upcoming elections.
The opposition and rights groups said this violates the constitution as well as a 2006 peace deal that ended a 13-year civil war.
The leaders also called for the “disarmament of all armed youth groups” and for the “creation of conditions for the return of refugees”.
Their statement was made after a summit of the East African Community in the Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam.
The summit was attended by President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania and Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya. They were joined by South Africa’s Jacob Zuma.
A coup attempt against Mr Nkurunziza failed earlier in May and some 90,000 Burundians according to the UN have fled the unrest.Many Burundians have sought refuge in neighboring countries like Rwanda and Tanzania.
Burundi government spokesman Philippe Nzobonariba told AFP news agency that the government welcomed the statement and was open to idea of delaying the elections.
