The African Union on Friday voiced its concern over the deepening crisis in Burundi, where the peace process is floundering and tribal tensions are resurfacing.
”We express deep concern over the stalling of the implementation of the agreement signed by the Burundi government and the National Liberation Forces (FNL),” African Union peace and security commissioner Said Djinnit said.
The deteriorating political situation in Burundi and growing fears of renewed conflict in the small conflict-scarred Central Africa nation were the focus of a meeting at the continental body’s headquarters in Addis Ababa.
The FNL are the last rebel group in Burundi not to have a peace pact with the unity government. Last month, some of its top officials and commanders fled Bujumbura, where they were due to discuss the implementation of a ceasefire and returned to the bush, sparking concern they were gearing up for a fresh offensive.
”The FNL is to blame for having left the agreement without notification, the AU Peace and Security Council deplores this fact, but we call on them to work for the facilitation of the agreement,” Djinnit said.
”The regional countries should also meet and consider the deteriorating situation in Burundi and help out to achieve solutions.”
Last week, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also voiced his concern. On Wednesday, Burundi’s main Tutsi party accused the government of violating a peace pact by favouring Hutus in the army and police. The country is struggling to recover from a civil war sparked by the 1993 assassination of the country’s first Hutu president in a failed coup led by Tutsi army officers. — Sapa-AFP