EALA calls for speedy end to Burundi crisis

The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) has urged Heads of State of the East African Community (EAC) to put in more efforts in pushing Burundians to end their differences and for the Burundian government to restore peace on its territory. The Assembly’s message was delivered, yesterday, by Speaker Daniel Kidega while addressing journalists at the start of EALA’s two-week sitting in Kigali. “We want to applaud the steps that have been taken by the EAC Heads of State toward mediation (in Burundi) but to also appeal to the Summit to up the momentum on the matter,” he said. Human rights activists say that more than 200 people have died in Burundi while about 200,000 have fled their homes as part of violence that erupted after President Pierre Nkurunziza decided to seek re-election. Several experts, including senior UN officials, have warned that Burundi is at a critical situation and faces a deep political crisis with escalating violence and bodies of dead people being regularly dumped in the streets of the capital, Bujumbura. “We, as an Assembly, appeal to the government and citizens of Burundi to do all that it takes to restore peace in the country. The Assembly regrets the current deteriorating situation in the country that has led to loss of lives, maimed others, and damaged property. We must prevent a situation that will see the country further degenerate and slide into anarchy,” Kidega told journalists. EALA urged Heads of State of the East African Community to put in more efforts in pushing Burundians to end their conflict and for the Burundian government to restore peace on its territory. An extra-ordinary Summit of EAC Heads of State in June appointed Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to mediate in the Burundian crisis, but analysts say the results from the mediation are far from resolving the conflict. Kidega urged other international actors, including the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)—an eight-country trade bloc in eastern Africa—the African Union, and the United Nations Security Council to join hands with the EAC Heads of State to ensure that the violence in Burundi is brought to an end. “The citizens of East Africa are yearning for speedy conclusion or bringing to an end the confusion in Burundi,” he said. Apart from the issue of violence in Burundi, which EALA legislators will discuss through their committee on regional affairs and conflicts resolution, the lawmakers will also examine two key Bills during their two-week sitting in Kigali. The two draft laws are the EAC Disaster Risk Reduction Bill 2013 and the EAC Forestry Management Bill 2014. “These two bills are very important to this region in mitigation and dealing with the impact of climate change in this region,” Kidega said. The legislators will also hold consultations with different stakeholders in the country during their stay, including business leaders and government officials. A special sitting of EALA will also be held today in the afternoon chaired by Senate President Bernard Makuza on behalf of President Paul Kagame.

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EALA calls for speedy end to Burundi crisis