EU, AU laud efforts by Burundi to improve security situation

Burundi has been encouraged to facilitate inclusive dialogue in an effort to bring a lasting solution the east African nation.


The European and African Unions jointly acknowledged the improved security situation in Burundi while calling on both the government and opposition to genuinely engage in dialogue facilitated by the East African Community mediators.

The two regional bodies made the observation at the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU PSC) and the European Union Political and Security Committee (EU PSC)‘s 9th Annual Joint Consultative Meeting in Brussels, Belgium.

“While noting the AU PSC assessment during its visit to the country in June 2016, that the security situation has improved in the country, the AU PSC and the EU PSC expressed their continued preoccupation with the security situation in the country and encouraged efforts to continue improving it,” they said in a statement on Tuesday.

“They also agreed that the East African Community (EAC) facilitation needs to succeed on the understanding that only an inclusive dialogue can bring a viable solution … They expressed hope that the report of former President Mkapa, to the recent EAC Summit, and the response of Heads of State, can accelerate the process,” the statement added.
The Unions also agreed on the need for the full deployment of AU civilian and military observers to the country, africanews.com reports.

The AU PSC and the EU PSC discussed the framework of the Africa – EU partnership including conflict and crisis situations in Africa namely, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Somalia, Mali, South Sudan, Burundi and Guinea Bissau.

The meeting co-chaired by Ambassador Catherine Muigai Mwangi of Kenya and Ambassador Walter Stevens, Permanent Chair of the EU PSC agreed to meet again in 2017 in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia and to undertake a new joint field trip in the region.

Courtesy Of CCTV Africa