Refugees concerned over future of Arusha talks

Burundian refugees living in camps in Tanzania expressed sorrow over Nyerere’s death and concern for the future of the peace process. Interviewed by the BBC Kirundi service, one refugee said Nyerere had died “before the [Arusha] talks reached a meaningful phase, before the signing of a peace agreement”. FRODEBU (internal) Secretary-General, Augustin Nzojibwami, said the Arusha talks would go on and another mediator would be chosen. “The urgent issue now is to stop the fighting,” he told the radio. The private news agency Azania cited a diplomat in Bujumbura as saying Nyerere’s death meant the facilitators were now obliged to seek fresh alternatives for the Arusha process. Noting that the process had reached a “sort of stalemate”, the diplomat said “the prospect of a change gives a ray of hope”. Top officials of the Nyerere Foundation are currently touring the region to discuss the future of the Arusha process with regional leaders.