EAC’s silence over Burundi crisis baffling, says Raila Odinga

CORD leader Raila Odinga has challenged the East African Community (EAC) to prevail over Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza to let go his bid for third term in office.

Nkurunziza announced that he would be in the race for presidency, a declaration that did not go well with electorates in the East African country and which has sparked deadly violence in the capital Bujumbura.

“The EAC and other international actors must prevail upon President Nkurunzinza to decline the nomination to run again,” said Raila, emphasising that the third term is unconstitutional.

The Kenyan Opposition leader said that the silence from Burundi’s neighbours is setting bad precedence, should other countries whose elections are approaching resort to violence. DR Congo has elections later this year, Uganda will go to the polls in 2016, and Rwanda has elections in 2017.

 “Since the crisis in Burundi began, there has been no decisive statement or action from the EAC which makes the regional body compare extremely poorly with counterparts like ECOWAS, which dealt decisively with crisis in Ivory Coast and SADC in Zimbabwe and Madagascar,” said Raila.

Raila challenged the EAC, African Union and United Nations to put up rapid response and handle the situation that is threatening the future of Burundi.

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“The silence of Burundi’s immediate neighbours amid a boiling crisis is baffling and troubling,” he lamented.

Burundi was admitted to the EAC as a way of catalysing the implementation of the Arusha Peace Agreement and consolidating stability in the greater Eastern African region.

“We have a duty as a region and a continent to, at the very least, secure the legacies of Mwalimu Nyerere and Nelson Mandela by ensuring that the Arusha Peace accord is allowed to live on. The Democratisation and reconciliation process must continue to be respected and nurtured in Burundi,” said Raila.

Raila wants sanctions to be imposed on Burundi, including but not limited to suspension or expulsion from the EAC, AU, Comesa and other international organisations if the violence continues.

At least seven people have been killed since protests broke out last week, after Nkurunzinza announced his decision to run for presidency in the June 26 elections.