President Museveni Kaguta of Uganda, the mediator for Burundi dialogue and Ex-Tanzania President Benjamin Mkapa, the facilitator, have so far done a great job. The first official round of consultation(s) closed today. The facilitator was excited by the openness and willingness of all parties especially the government of Burundi.
Some European Union and the US officials attended all sessions of the dialogue. Some top US and European Union countries government officials are said to be the major sponsors of the so-called Burundi rebels who have terrorized the country for a year now.
Russia, China and some few European Union countries are opposed the US-EU open and notorious support of the so-called Burundi rebels who attack Burundi from, and with the help of, Rwanda. Russia and China opposed and stopped the US/UK infamous maneuver at the UNSC for ” humanitarian” intervention over fears that the US-EU wanted to use the UNSC Resolution to execute their regime change scheme in Burundi. Russia and China prevailed.
It’s unclear whether China and Russia, like their counterparts the US and EU, were represented in the dialogue. The EU picks the entire bill for the dialogue.
a) Why is the US and EU so interested in Burundi dialogue yet the US and EU are ” sympathetic” to the ” Rwanda based ” rebels” that terrorize Burundi?
The UNSC resolved that only peaceful parties will be represented in Arusha – Tanzania – for Burundi dialogue. The so-called armed groups were not invited to the dialogue.
b) Why were the US and EU ” supported” armed groups left out in a US and EU sponsored dialogue?
c) What’s the likely ” game plan” for Kagame and his fighters – the so-called rebels – that terrorize Burundi, after they ” rebels” were left out of the dialogue?
(d) why is it called Burundi dialogue and not Burundi peace talks?
The mediator as well as the financial sponsors of the dialogue are suspects in the ” conflict” and both do not see eye to eye these days. (e) How will President Museveni’s personality, interests in the region and uncomfortable relationship between him ( Museveni) and the EU/US play out for the dialogue and the Great Lakes Region?
By Charles Kambanda