Defence minister more optimistic on Tanzania border issue

The Burundian and Tanzanian defence ministers on Saturday held talks in Bujumbura to address the issue of rebel incursions into Burundi from Tanzanian territory, Burundi radio reported. It noted this was the third in a series of meetings to discuss the problem, and quoted Burundian Defence Minister Cyrille Ndayirukiye as saying that following the previous meetings there had been no improvement in the situation. However, he was hopeful of a more positive outcome after Saturday’s meeting. “We are, today, allowed to nurture some hope,” he said.

“We hope the current meeting will adopt resolutions which are likely to establish a strong basis for peace and understanding between our border peoples.” News organisations reported a joint communique issued by Ndayirukiye and his Tanzanian counterpart Edgar Maokoka Majogo as saying the Burundian government would create “favourable conditions for the conducive return of the refugees”. The two men also acknowledged that security along the joint border had improved. The ministers said they would meet again in Tanzania in May.