Museveni backs Mandela mediation attempts

Last week’s meeting in Uganda between President Yoweri Museveni and his Burundian counterpart Pierre Buyoya was aimed at strengthening the ongoing Arusha peace process facilitated by former South African president Nelson Mandela, Ugandan officials said. “President Museveni hosted the meeting as chairman of the regional initiative on Burundi to re-affirm his support for the facilitator, and no positions were taken on issues that are under discussion in Arusha because it is the work of the Burundi parties to the negotiations,” Amama Mbabazi, Uganda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of regional cooperation told IRIN on Monday. Major issues under negotiation include army reform and the formation of a transitional government.

Ugandan radio quoted Museveni as saying he had “fruitful consultations” with President Buyoya. On the progress of the Arusha talks, Museveni said any delay was “understandable”, because the process “is aimed at solving a very serious problem”.