South Africa deciding next step

Meanwhile, South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on Monday confirmed her country had been approached by Burundi to mediate in the conflict. In a question and answer session after delivering an address to the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), Dlamini-Zuma said South Africa was in the process of deciding what steps to take and the “nature of the mediation” that could be required in Burundi. She added that talks between Burundi, South Africa and Tanzania would take place “soon” to work out peace mechanisms for Burundi.

Regional analyst Sagaren Naidoo of the SAIIA told IRIN he believed South Africa would play a “definite role” in the mediation. “After all, it is in accordance with our foreign policy objectives to promote the peaceful resolution of conflicts on the continent,” he said. “We have the human resources to do the job, like former president Nelson Mandela.”