Burundian opposition parties have rejected the appointment of Ugandan
President Yoweri Museveni by regional leaders to help mediate an end to the
political crisis, according to a report by Bloomberg news.
East African Community leaders announced on Monday they appointed
Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, to lead talks to resolve a dispute
sparked by Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza’s plan to seek a third term in
office.
The five-nation bloc also called for presidential elections scheduled
to take place on July 15 be postponed by two weeks.
“Museveni has been in power since 1986; can he help the Burundian
president to understand that a mandate limit is important? No,” Frederic
Bamvuginyumvira, deputy leader of the Front for Democracy in Burundi, said
today (Tuesday). ‘I expect nothing from his work.’’
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| Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza (seen left) with Ugandan President Yoweri Musevni |
Burundi has been roiled by violence that’s killed at least 77 people
dead since April, when the ruling party named Nkurunziza as its presidential
candidate. Opponents say the bid to extend his tenure violates a two-term limit
set out in peace agreements that in 2005 brought an end to a 12-year civil war.
More than 100,000 people have fled to neighboring countries in the past three
months.
The EAC said on Monday it had asked Burundi to disarm militias allied
to political parties through a demobilization exercise overseen by the African
Union.
Bamvuginyumvira said the disarmament would take longer than two weeks.
“It took years and years to arm them,” he said. “Do you think they can hand
over their weapons easily?”