REGIONAL BRIEF
Burundi has claimed that their immediate neighbor Rwanda is supporting rebels to topple their government.
African leaders are set to probe on those claims by Burundi to ascertain if Rwanda has a hand on the ongoing escalating violence brought forth by rebels.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Crispus Kiyonga, the talks mediator assured Burundi government and the opposition that regional leaders will investigate its claims on Rwanda aiding rebels to cause chaos in Burundi.
Rwanda has since denied the claims, but Kiyonga who is also Uganda’s defense minister stressed that investigations will eventually unearth the truth and in case there is a problem, solution to the same will be found.
Burundi report accuses Rwanda to be aiding opposition member’s alliance known as National Council for Restoration of Arusha Agreement and Rule of Law and also by French acronym ‘CNARED’.
Burundi cites CNARED members to be the ones behind the May 2015, failed coup aimed at overthrowing President Pierre Nkurunziza.
Burundi report furthers implicates CNARED for orchestrating a series of attacks on security forces and recruiting refugees from neighbouring countries to joining the armed rebellion.
Burundi plunged into political turmoil in April 2015 when Pierre Nkurunziza declared bid to run for a controversial third term.
The country’s opposition termed Nkurunziza’s bid as a violation of the country’s constitution and mutilation of 2005 Arusha Accord that ended years of civil strife in Burundi.
Burundi recently rejected the move by AU to deploy peacekeeping troops saying it a violation of their sovereignty.
The lead mediator Kiyonga however proposed to Burundi that the AU force is aimed to stabilize the deteriorating security scenario in the country as quoted “It is in that spirit that we of AU think we should come to the assistance of our brothers in Burundi,”
African Union is expected to consult with the Burundi government to reach a final decision on the deployment of the 5,000 peacekeeping troops.
