Nairobi - A presidential election due in Burundi next month should be postponed indefinitely until political stability returns, South African President Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday, summarising the outcome of a regional summit in Angola.
The special meeting was convened after a failed coup in Burundi against President Pierre Nkurunziza, whose decision to seek a third term of office has triggered weeks of street protests.
Presidency spokesman Harold Maloka said Zuma returned from the Extraordinary Summit of the International Conference on Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) in Angola on Monday. “He [Zuma] said the summit provided direction with regards to solving the immediate challenges of peace and stability in some parts of the Great Lakes region.”
Leaders at the summit discussed thoroughly the security situation in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Burundi and the Republic of South Sudan as well as issues of terrorism.
Zuma said the summit strongly condemned the attempted coup d’état that occurred last week in Burundi. “The summit further agreed that the postponement of elections should not have a time frame as there was unrest in the country and the elections should be postponed indefinitely until there’s stability, which would allow the elections to be free and fair.
“We have also agreed that a delegation of heads of state from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa will visit Burundi in the shortest possible time to evaluate the situation and contribute to the peaceful resolution of the current situation,” said Zuma.
Reuters and ANA