Security along border with Tanzania “unimproved”

A joint communique, issued after a recent meeting between the defence ministers of Burundi and Tanzania, noted that security along the common border had not improved “in spite of the strong political will which exists between the two countries”. According to the statement, received by IRIN on Friday, the meeting last weekend in Dar es Salaam between Colonel Cyrille Ndayirukiye of Burundi and his Tanzanian counterpart Philemon Sarungi “made it categorically clear that, contrary to allegations being perpetrated in the media, there are no hostilities between the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Burundi”. The two ministers stressed the need to exchange timely information on border issues to “facilitate the necessary actions”.

“Concerning the repatriation of refugees...the ministers have directed that the meeting of the Technical Working Group be held in early July in Kigoma [Tanzania] as scheduled, so as to put in place the operational plan for the repatriation of refugees and propose any other measures conducive to facilitating and speeding up the repatriation exercise, including the creation of safe zones in Burundi,” the statement said.