Raila warns EAC over Burundi crisis

Cord leader Raila Odinga has criticised East African leaders for remaining silent as the situation in Burundi gets out of hand.

Mr Odinga said the silence by Burundi’s neighbours was baffling and troubling.
Seven people have been killed since protests started in the tiny landlocked country late last month. Protesters are opposed to President Pierre Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term.

“The EAC and the international community must demonstrate that they will not entertain or allow an unconstitutional third term that will threaten the peace and stability of Burundi and the region,” said Mr Odinga.

He said all options should be open, including suspension or expulsion of Burundi from EAC, the African Union, Comesa and other organisations.

The opposition chief regretted that since the crisis began, there has been no decisive statement or action from the EAC, making the regional organisation compare poorly with counterparts like Ecowas.

“How the EAC handles the situation will have implications for other regional countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, which holds elections this year, Uganda, which goes to the polls in 2016 and Rwanda which has elections in 2017,” said Mr Odinga.

ADMITTED TO THE EAC

He said Burundi was admitted to the EAC as a way of catalysing the implementation of the Arusha Peace Agreement and consolidating stability in the region.
Mr Odinga said EAC, AU and the United Nations should put in place a rapid response and action mechanism that may include the deployment of a stabilisation and peace enforcement force in Burundi.

Meanwhile, Kenya says it stands for free polls but will not interfere with the situation in Burundi.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho, who was in Bujumbura on Friday, said Kenya would focus on supporting the electoral commission help Burundians choose their leader.

“Burundi is a sovereign country and what they decide is what we will support. The international community must support the electoral agency so that polls are free, fair and transparent,” Mr Kibicho told the Nation on Saturday.

“The issue of whether Mr Nkurunziza should vie or not is before the court and we will support whatever decision is arrived at.”

Thousands of Burundians have fled to neighbouring Rwanda since the protests broke out on Sunday last week, a day after the ruling NDD-FDD party nominated Mr Nkurunziza as its candidate for the June 26 election.

Police cracked down on protesters, arresting about 600. Most of those apprehended were university students and human rights activists. The government also shut down an influential radio station and a university.

Mr Nkurunziza reportedly warned protesting youth from “being manipulated” because the laws “do not allow protests during the electoral period”.