Regional leaders to discuss “way forward”

Leaders of the Great Lakes region are due to discuss the future of the Burundi peace process, following the death of the facilitator Julius Nyerere. Tanzanian Foreign Minister Jakaya Kikwete told IRIN on Tuesday they had decided to call a summit to decide on the “way forward” for Burundi. “It is a meeting of leaders who were involved in the nomination of Nyerere as facilitator of the Burundi peace process,” he said. “It is at this meeting that they may look at the names that will be presented and may or may not come up with a name for Nyerere’s replacement. They could as well decide to take the facilitation upon themselves.” Kikwete could not confirm any dates, saying the leaders “are still consulting” on possible dates.

The Nyerere Foundation, for its part, told IRIN press reports naming possible successors to Nyerere were “just speculation”, as were reports that the peace talks would resume on 14 November. Spokesman Brigadier Hashim Mbita said consultations between various Burundian sides were still underway, but did not give details. ‘The EastAfrican’ newspaper on Monday reported that the CNDD, PARENA and FRODEBU groups, which met in Dar es Salaam last week, had put foward the names of former Botswanan president Ketumile Masire, former Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda and former Tanzanian premiers John Malecela and Joseph Warioba.