The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Wednesday
Former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa was named Wednesday as the new mediator for talks to end a nearly year-long crisis in neighbouring Burundi by the regional East African Community (EAC).
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni officially remains the main mediator, but 77-year old Mkapa is expected to push renewed efforts to solve the violence. Burundi has been in crisis since President Pierre Nkurunziza’s controversial decision last April to run for a third term.
EAC chairman and Tanzanian President John Magufuli announced the new appointment at a summit meeting in the bloc’s headquarters in the Tanzanian town of Arusha. The meeting also announced South Sudan would join the community as a sixth member, joining Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.
Mkapa was Tanzania’s president from 1995 to 2005, when he hosted a million Burundian refugees fleeing the civil war. He was accused at the time of also harbouring Burundian Hutu rebels, including forces now with key posts in power in Bujumbura.
Nkurunziza did not attend the summit: the last time he left Burundi was for an EAC meeting, when rebels staged a failed coup bid.
The East African Community also named a new Secretary General, Liberat Mpfumukeko from Burundi. He takes over from Richard Sezibera from Rwanda.Mpfumukeko was previously deputy EAC Sec Gen Finance and Administration.
At the summit, Uganda and Tanzania also agreed plans to build an oil pipeline between Tanga and Uganda covering a distance of 1,120km and projected to employ 15,000 people.
