Bujumbura “unworkable” as peace talks venue - Nyerere

The push by the Burundi government to have the venue of the peace talks moved from Arusha to Bujumbura has been dismissed as “unworkable” by mediator, former Tanzanian president Julius Nyerere. In an interview with the ‘EastAfrican’ weekly, Nyerere said it was not advisable to hold such “sensitive” talks in Bujumbura since some parties had expressed security fears about returning to Burundi before a settlement was reached. Although he agreed that the problem should eventually be discussed in Burundi, currently the internal situation was not “conducive enough” to bring about peace.

Bujumbura, for its part, maintained that relocating the talks to the capital would ensure more citizen participation. “I cannot take a position here in Arusha without being sure that I am being understood at home,” Peace Process Minister Ambroise Niyonsaba told the weekly. “Peace will be built in Burundi, where Barundi [the people of Burundi] can follow and influence the negotiations.” He said his country was peaceful enough for everybody to air their views and such an internal debate was already under way. He said his government did not agree with Nyerere’s methods. “It is not necessary to have a consensus on every small issue. This is why discussions are getting stuck,” he said.