African leaders head to Burundi to promote ‘dialogue’

Five African leaders are to visit Burundi this week to push for progress in stalled efforts to end the country’s 10-month-old crisis that has left more than 400 dead, the South African government said Tuesday.

The African Union delegation, headed by South African President Jacob Zuma, will arrive for the two-day trip to Bujumbura on Thursday.

Also on the visit are President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of Mauritania, President Macky Sall of Senegal, President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon and Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn of Ethiopia.

“The African Union summit (in January) decided that, regarding Burundi, an inclusive political dialogue must be supported,” the South African government said in a statement.

It added that the delegation would “meet with the highest authorities of the Republic of Burundi, as well as with other Burundian stakeholders, to hold consultations on the inclusive inter-Burundian dialogue”.

At the summit in Addis Ababa, African leaders declined to authorise a proposed peacekeeping force to stem the violence after vehement opposition from the government in Bujumbura.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was due to hold talks with President Pierre Nkurunziza in Burundi on Tuesday after meeting with political parties and civil society representatives.

A dozen people were injured in at least 10 grenade blasts overnight in the capital, police said.

International leaders hope to revive attempts to find a solution to the unrest that began in April when President Pierre Nkurunziza decided to run for a controversial third term, which he went on to win in July.