Faites la même chose pour le Rwanda

EAC warns Burundi of sanctions

By Augustine Oduor and Grace Wekesa, The Standard

Member states of the East Africa Community have moved swiftly to intervene in Burundi after the opposition threatened to boycott elections tomorrow.

Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula said a delegation comprising foreign affairs ministers from Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and the Deputy Prime Minster of Uganda delivered a strong message to the country to embrace reforms or face sanctions from member states.

He said plans by opposition parties to boycott elections threatened the reform process and advancement of integration.

The opposition parties said they would boycott election unless the electoral commission was disbanded and a new body instituted.

But Wetangula said disbandment of the electoral commission was not the solution.

"We met the president, the vice-president, and other parties and we agreed they ought to participate in the elections," said Wetangula.

EAC member states are Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania