Talks at “critical stage”, government says

The Burundi government has officially set out its position on the future of the peace process. In a statement sent to IRIN on Tuesday, the foreign ministry said the government remained committed to the process, noting the negotiations were at a “critical stage”. It was therefore necessary to nominate a new mediator “without delay” to avoid “mistakes and various conjectures” which could affect the progress already made. The government called for a “neutral” mediator, aided by at least two deputies, one of whom could come from the Nyerere Foundation. The statement reiterated that the main issue was to cease hostilities otherwise the peace process would just remain a “theory”. “The rebellion, already a trans-border operation, has acquired a multinational dimension due to the various regional alliances.” A ceasefire could therefore only come about through cooperation between Burundi and the countries of the region, especially its direct neighbours, the statement said. The government again stressed the rebel groups’ armed factions should take part in the peace process, as separate talks between these factions and the government would have no meaning unless all sides were included in the global approach.