The United Nations has appointed a Senegalese diplomat to facilitate talks between rival factions in Burundi’s political crisis.
The appointment made on Sunday, follows the exit of the previous mediator, whom the opposition accused of being biased.
The UN said in a statement that Abdoulaye Bathily, who is already the UN’s Special Representative for Central Africa, was heading to Bujumbura to help mediate talks.
The tiny East African country was plunged into turmoil in late April, after President Pierre Nkurunziza said he would seek a third presidential term.
The previous UN mediator, Said Djinnit, left the role after only a few weeks.
The Burundi Government spokesman Philippe Nzobo-nariba welcomed Bathily’s appointment but said forthcoming parliamentary and presidential elections, would go ahead as planned, on June 29 and July 15 respectively.
