BRUSSELS – Belgium Minister of Foreign Affairs, Didier Reynders, has declared the country’s readiness to receive Burundians fleeing their country out of fear of the violence precipitated by President Pierre Nkurunziza’s third term ambition.
He insisted that the President’s decision to run, in spite of widespread opposition from within and outside Burundi, was illegal and advised him to engage all political parties in the country in dialogue.
The minister spoke as the Speaker of Burundi Parliament, Pie Ntavyohanyuma, became the latest official of the Burundian government to flee the African nation.
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The Speaker, who arrived in Brussels on Sunday, told newsmen that he was forced to leave the country because of the violence caused by Nkurunziza’s refusal to drop his ambition.
Burundi’s second Vice President, Gervais Rufyikiri, had earlier arrived in Brussels on Friday, after which he called on Nkurunziza to give up his third term bid.
In spite of the opposition against Nkurunziza’s plan, Burundians were voting to elect their local government officials and parliamentarians on Monday.
Meanwhile, presidential election is scheduled to follow on July 15. (PANA/NAN)
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