Tanzania's former president Benjamin William
Mkapa, who is the
facilitator for Burundi peace talks, has announced the beginning of a
formal dialogue after completion of the earlier consultative talks.
Respondent from Mkapa’s office
shows that the scheduled session will take place between the 16th and 18th
February 2017, at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC) in Tanzania.
Discussions with stakeholders
within and outside the country had made Benjamin Mkapa to identify eight-point
as an agenda raised by all the partners.
The eight-point agenda, which
will form the thrust of the dialogue and subsequent negations, in no particular
order of importance, includes security and commitment to end all forms of
violence in the landlocked country.
Others are commitment to the Rule
of Law and an end to impunity and status of the implementation of the Arusha
Peace and Reconciliation Agreement.
Moreover strengthening of
democratic culture and opening up of political space as well as social and
humanitarian issues are included. It also highlighted implementation of the EAC
Summit Decision of July 6th, 2015 on the Formation of the Government of
National Unity, impact of the crisis on the Economy and the relationship
between Burundi and its neighbors as well as other international partners.
The retired President will invite
some of the Political Parties and important political actors to whom he will
introduce the unpacked Eight-point agenda to determine areas of convergence and
divergence.
Other stakeholders like the civil
society organizations, religious groups, as well as women and youth will be
invited in later sessions for the similar purpose.
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