Mandela reportedly proposes Buyoya as transitional leader

Burundi peace mediator, Nelson Mandela, has proposed that President Pierre Buyoya should lead the first phase of the country’s three-year transition period, Burundi radio reported on Tuesday. It said he made the proposal in Pretoria after three hours of talks with the pro-Tutsi G10 group of parties, during which he urged them to support Buyoya’s candidacy. “He justified his proposal taking into account the several meetings he has held with sub-regional heads of state, the UN and representatives of all the countries interested in the Burundi question,” the radio said.

According to the radio, he told the G10 that in all his meetings, nobody had rejected Buyoya and that on the contrary, he had not found anyone who supported the group of six pro-Tutsi parties (G6) supporting the presidential candidature of Colonel Epitace Bayaganakandi. The radio said the G6 were currently holding discussions to arrive at a position on the proposal.