Efforts to ease the ongoing tensions in Burundi have hit a snarl after the ruling CNDD-FDD party and its opposition ally , UPRONA, announced their withdrawal.
“We call on the African Union to respect the country’s sovereignty in resuming the roundtable while in efforts to conduct peaceful, free, inclusive and transparent elections,” read a statement from the ruling party.
The two parties said on Tuesday they did not see the need to particiapte in the UN-led talks since they believe the country was ready for elections on Monday as set out in the constitution.
The talks are aimed at brokering peace between rival parties following weeks of violence and protests against President Pierre Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term.
The talks fronted by the United Nations, Africa Union and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa were set to resume earlier under the newly UN appointed facilitator Abdoulaye Bathily.
“We don’t have time to negotiate, the country has the constitution and the electoral code so at this moment we are not attending to any invitation not until the end of the electoral period,” said Gaston Sindimwo the secretary-general of UPRONA that is legally recognised by the government.
Other opposition parties have been accusing Mr Sindimwo’s UPRONA faction of being sympathetic to the ruling CNDD-FDD party. The party split into two, with another faction not recognised by President Nkurunziza’s government.
Earlier this month, the UN special envoy to the Great Lakes region,quit as the facilitator in the talks, after facing accusations of bias by the opposition and civil society organisations.
