Goups float four names for facilitator

The names of four prominent Africans have been proposed by Burundian groups seeking a replacement for the peace talks facilitator, Julius Nyerere. ‘The EastAfrican’ newspaper reported on Monday that delegates from CNDD, PARENA and FRODEBU, who met in Dar es Salaam last week, put forward the names of former Botswanan president Ketumile Masire, former Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda and former Tanzanian premiers John Malecela and Judge Joseph Warioba. The names are expected to be submitted to a Great Lakes summit to be held later this month in Arusha. “It is only the regional summit that will decide the way forward. We are still consulting on the exact date but it will definitely be this month,” Tanzanian Foreign Minister Jakaya Kikwete was quoted as saying. The paper said the Burundi government and UPRONA party did not attend the Dar consultations and would not do so “until a facilitator was found”.