Politics

Facilitation office postpones launch of 5th round of Inter-Burundian dialogue

Previously scheduled in the afternoon of 24 October at Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge in Arusha, Tanzania, the 5th round of the Inter-Burundian dialogue has been postponed to 25 October. The office of the facilitation in Burundi talks didn’t give any explanation. According to some sources in Arusha, the facilitator would have sent a verbal note to Bujumbura demanding it to participate.

Leaders from the internal and external opposition already at Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge

Leaders from the internal and external opposition already at Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge

On the eve of the 5th round of the dialogue session, Burundi government reported that it would not attend the session because the October month was a mourning period for Burundians. Prosper Ntahorwamiye, government spokesman said Bujumbura had asked the facilitation to postpone the dialogue session and it was still waiting for the response. In addition, the ruling party and its allies didn’t respond to the invitation of President William Benjamin Mkapa, the facilitator in the Inter-Burundian dialogue.

Leaders of internal and external opposition as well as those from the opposition platform in exile- CNARED are already at Ngurdoto. Former Burundi Presidents Sylvestre Ntibantunganya and Domitien Ndayizeye have also responded to the invitation of the facilitation in the Inter-Burundian dialogue.

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