Rival Burundi factions meet over crisis
A man holds up a sign reading "We say no to the 3rd term" during a protest against President Pierre Nkurunziza's nomination for re-election in Musaga, on the outskirts of the capital Bujumbura, on April 30, 2015. AFP PHOTO | SIMON MAINA
What you need to know:
- The protests began on April 26 in opposition to Mr Nkurunziza's nomination to run for a third term in office.
- On Monday, the country's First Vice President Prosper Bazombanza opened the dialogue and promised to release detainees, lift a police blockade on the city, and restrictions on the media if the protests are called off.
BUJUMBURA
Rival factions are meeting for the second day in an attempt to find a solution to the political crisis that has rocked Burundi.
A constitutional court ruling allowing President Pierre Nkurunziza's to run again has not ended protests in which at least 10 people have been killed and close to 30,000 forced to flee into neighbouring countries.
The protests began on April 26 in opposition to Mr Nkurunziza's nomination to run for a third term in office.
"The important thing is that the two sides are at least meeting and having a conversation," a diplomat attending the meeting told Nation on Wednesday morning. "Before Tuesday there wasn't any formal discussion between the two groups."
'CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC'
Jean De Dieu Mutabazi, one of the opposition politicians who intend to run in the election, said he was "cautiously optimistic" about the meeting resolving the crisis, pointing to the absence of senior officials from both the ruling CNDD-FDD party, and the organisers of the protests.
On Monday, the country's First Vice President Prosper Bazombanza opened the dialogue and promised to release detainees, lift a police blockade on the city, and restrictions on the media if the protests are called off.
Organisers of the protests, however, say they will continue until Mr Nkurunziza, who has already served two terms in office, backs down.
