Burundi rivals meet over political crisis

The government and opposition in Burundi are meeting in a bid to defuse tensions after days of deadly demonstrations against a third term bid by President Pierre Nkurunziza, sources said Wednesday.

“This is a last chance meeting, they have to come up with concrete solutions so that elections can be held in acceptable conditions,” a diplomat said, warning international funding for polls could be cut if a deal was not struck.

The rivals met late Tuesday and talks were expected to continue Wednesday.

A government source, speaking like the diplomat on condition of anonymity, confirmed the government had “agreed to talk with some partners in civil society and the opposition to find a solution.”

The meetings come after furious protesters dismissed a constitutional court ruling that allows Nkurunziza to run in June elections.

On Tuesday, protesters defied calls to end demonstrations, after more than a week of running battles in which at least 13 people have been killed, including police.

One of leaders of the campaign against Nkurunziza’s third term said they were doubtful the talks would result in a deal.

“We talked late into the night,” he said, also asking not to be named. “But I’m afraid we won’t succeed — because the government does not want to discuss the third mandate of Nkurunziza, and this issue is non-negotiable for us.”

The president, a former rebel leader from the Hutu majority who has been in power since 2005, has come under intense international pressure to withdraw from the June 26 presidential poll.

US Secretary of State John Kerry warned Monday that he was “deeply concerned” about Nkurunziza’s decision to stand again, which he said “flies directly in the face of the constitution”.

Burundi, where a 13-year civil war between Tutsis and Hutus ended only in 2006, has been rocked by violent protests since the CNDD-FDD designated Nkurunziza to stand in what critics say is in defiance of the constitution and the Arusha accords which ended the war.

Nkurunziza’s supporters say he is eligible to run again since his first term in office followed his election by parliament — not directly by the people as the constitution specifies.

(AFP)