AU: High level delegation expected in Burundi

A high level African delegation is expected to travel to Bujumbura to take part in discussions on the ongoing crisis, which has struck Burundi in recent months.

The discussions aim at bringing President Pierre Nkurunziza, members of his government, and other parties involved in the standoff, together at one negotiating table.

The African Union (AU) said in a statement that the move follows a decision made during the 26th ordinary session of heads of state in January.

The African Union had then decided to pull back from deploying peacekeepers to prevent mass bloodshed after fierce opposition from the Burundian President and some other regional leaders.

The visiting delegation will be made up of Mauritania’s president, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, South Africa’s Jacob Zuma, Senegal’s Macky Sall, Gabon’s Ali Bongo and Ethiopia’s Hailemariam Desalegn.