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Nelson Mandela, the facilitator of the Burundi peace process, will attend the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) summit in Lusaka, Zambia next month to brief participants on problems facing the Burundi peace process, the private Burundi NetPress news agency reported on Sunday. Mandela, who had initially declined an invitation to attend the summit, apparently changed his mind after consultations with Burundi President Pierre Buyoya and “heavyweights” of the opposition FRODEBU (Front pour la democratie au Burundi) party.
NetPress stated that Mandela will report on progress made thus far in implementing the Arusha peace accord, as well as current stumbling blocks. He is also due to hold discussions regarding possible means of finding a lasting solution to the conflict. In the meantime, Mandela, who is reportedly striving to ensure that transitional leadership is established in Burundi by July, will continue to hold consultations with Burundi political leaders in an effort to resolve pending issues in the peace process.
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