Ugandan president, former Tanzanian leader discuss Burundi crisis

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and former Tanzania leader Benjamin Mkapa on Friday met to discuss solutions to the Burundi crisis.

A State House statement issued here said the two leaders who are mediating the Burundi peace talks discussed several issues that could provide possible solutions to end the political instability in the east African country.

"They emphasized the need for all the parties involved in the political crisis in Burundi to negotiate and respect the Arusha Peace Accord," the statement said.

The Arusha Peace Accord ended the 1993-2005 civil war that left thousands dead and others fleeing to neighboring countries.

Museveni is the Chief Mediator of the Burundi peace talks while Mkapa is the principal mediator of the negotiations aimed at ending the current crisis.

During the meeting held at Entebbe State House, 40 km south of the capital Kampala, Mkapa delivered a written report to Museveni and also briefed him on the current political crisis in Burundi.

The Burundi crisis erupted in April last year following President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid to run for a third term in office, a move seen as contrary to the country's Constitution and the Arusha Peace Accord.

Since then, there have been regional initiatives to resolve the crisis in the country that has forced thousands to flee to neighboring countries.

source : xinhua