BUJUMBURA August 14th (ABP) – The President of the Republic of Burundi, Evariste Ndayishimiye, returned on Friday August 11, 2023 from the Federal Republic of Nigeria, where he had participated in the extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a summit which aimed to analyze the political and security situation currently prevailing in Niger.
In an interview given to the press, the spokesperson for the Head of State, Mrs. Rosine Guilène Gatoni, indicated that the Burundian president participated in that Summit as witnesses and observer as the vice president of the organization of the African Union (OAU) but also as Chairman of the Peace and Security Council of that organization for the current month of August.
According to Mrs. Gatoni, the Head of State joined his fellow ECOWAS Member Heads of State in strongly condemning any form of unconstitutional accession to power. Indeed, they recommended the immediate release of the president of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, who was democratically elected, his family as well as the members of his government who are taken hostage by the military junta.
Mrs. Gatoni also said that President Ndayishimiye took the opportunity to provide some advice based on experience, knowing that Burundi has experienced coups. That is why he recommended prioritizing dialogue as a means of conflict resolution while keeping the use of force as a last resort. She added that this Summit resulted in certain recommendations that go in the direction of supporting Niger to restore constitutional order. The other recommendation concerns the deployment of the ECOWAS regional force, while keeping an open door for dialogue.