Museveni to resume Burundi peace talks

{The Minister of Defence, Dr Crispus Kiyonga, has announced that dialogue on the Burundi peace pact will resume on December 28.}

He told the press at the Uganda Media Centre yesterday that the new date follows a series of consultative meetings with the concerned parties.

“The resumption of the Burundi talks delayed because we had to assemble all the concerned parties, it wasn’t that easy.

After the launch of resumption of talks in Kampala, we hope the talks to be transferred to Arusha, Tanzania, unless otherwise. The situation in Burundi is now critical and it is appropriate that dialogue resumes,” Dr Kiyonga told reporters.
The talks will be chaired by President Museveni.

In July, EAC leaders in Dar es Salaam tasked President Museveni to lead Burundi’s peace process following the violence that broke out after President Pierre Nkurunziza changed the constitution to seek a third presidential term.

Dr Kiyonga said the talks will involve Burundi’s ruling CNDD-FDD party, and groups opposed to Mr Nkurunziza’s government.
On Thursday, the EU announced Shs1.4b ($450,000) facilitation to the Burundi talks.

The African Union said yesterday it was planning to send about 5,000 peacekeepers to Burundi to protect civilians trapped in the violence.

Last week, the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ms Linda Thomas-Greenfield, held talks with President Museveni on the Burundi crisis during her visit to Uganda last week.

At least 400 people have died in the latest clashes in Burundi and more than 200,000 displaced.

Source:Daily Monitor:[Museveni to resume Burundi peace talks->http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Museveni-to-resume-Burundi-peace-talks/-/688334/3003022/-/85tc9nz/-/index.html]