COMMUNIQUÉ: 3RD EMERGENCY SUMMIT OF HEADS OF STATE OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY ON THE SITUATION IN BURUNDI

EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY THE 3RD EMERGENCY SUMMIT OF HEADS OF STATE OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY ON THE SITUATION IN BURUNDI COMMUNIQUÉ 1.    THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY (EAC) CONVENED THE 3RD EMERGENCY SUMMIT AT THE LEVEL OF HEADS OF STATE IN DAR-ES-SALAAM, TANZANIA, ON 6 JULY 2015, TO REVIEW THE SITUATION IN BURUNDI, UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF H.E. PRESIDENT JAKAYA MRISHO KIKWETE OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, AND IN THE PRESENCE OF H.E. PRESIDENT YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA. THE SUMMIT WAS ALSO ATTENDED BY HON. AMINA MOHAMED, CABINET SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE REPRESENTING H.E. UHURU KENYATTA; HON. AMB. VALENTINE RUGWABIZA, MINISTER FOR EAC AFFAIRS REPRESENTING H.E. PRESIDENT PAUL KAGAME OF THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA; HON. ALLAIN NYAMITWE, MINISTER FOR EXTERNAL RELATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, REPRESENTING H.E. PRESIDENT PIERRE NKURUNZIZA OF THE REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI; HON. MANUEL AGUSTO, SECRETARY OF STATE, REPRESENTING H.E. PRESIDENT JOSE DOS SANTOS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ANGOLA; AMB. THAMSANGA MUSELEKU, REPRESENTING H.E. PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA; AMB. SMAÏL CHERAGUI, REPRESENTING H.E. DR.NKOSAZANA DLAMINI ZUMA, CHAIRPERSON OF THE AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION. 2.    THE SUMMIT WAS ALSO ATTENDED BY MINISTERS OF EAC PARTNER STATES, THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE EAC, AMB. DR. RICHARD SEZIBERA; THE SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE AU COMMISSION FOR THE GREAT LAKES REGION, PROFESSOR IBRAHIMA FALL; THE SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS FOR CENTRAL AFRICA, PROFESSOR ABDOULAYE BATHILY; THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR THE GREAT LAKES REGION (ICGLR), PROFESSOR NTUMBA LUABA AND MEMBERS OF THE EAC PANEL OF EMINENT PERSONS INCLUDING JUSTICE JOSEPH WARIOBA AND AMB. BETHUEL KIPLAGAT. 3.    THE SUMMIT TOOK PLACE AS A FOLLOW-UP TO THE EAC EMERGENCY SUMMIT OF 31ST MAY 2015 AND IN THE CONTEXT OF THE COMMUNIQUÉ ADOPTED BY THE 515TH MEETING OF THE AU PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL (PSC), HELD IN JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, ON 13 JUNE 2015. 4.    GIVEN THE CONTINUING POLITICAL IMPASSE IN BURUNDI, THE SUMMIT APPOINTED H.E. YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA TO FACILITATE DIALOGUE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, AMONG THE PARTIES IN BURUNDI WITH A VIEW TO FINDING SOLUTIONS TO ALL CONTENTIOUS ISSUES. 5.    THE SUMMIT ALSO TOOK THE FOLLOWING DECISIONS: A.    THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR THE 15 JULY, 2015 SHOULD BE POSTPONED TO JULY 30TH 2015 TO ALLOW TIME FOR THE FACILITATOR TO LEAD THE DIALOGUE. B.    WHOEVER WINS THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN BURUNDI SHOULD FORM A GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY INVOLVING THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN ELECTIONS AND THOSE WHO DID NOT; AND SHOULD AS NECESSARY PROVIDE SEATS FOR SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS. C.    WHICHEVER POLITICAL PARTY WINS THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS AND ALL OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES COMMIT TO UPHOLD THE ARUSHA PEACE AND RECONCILIATION AGREEMENT AND COMMIT NOT TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION OF BURUNDI IN RESPECT TO TERM LIMITS AND OTHER FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES ENSHRINED IN THE ARUSHA AGREEMENT. D.    THE EAC TO SEND AN ELECTORAL OBSERVER MISSION TO OBSERVE THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN THE REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI. E.    THE GOVERNMENT OF BURUNDI TO DISARM IMBONERAKURE AND OTHER ARMED YOUTH GROUPS ALLIED TO POLITICAL PARTIES. F.    THE AU SHOULD URGENTLY DEPLOY MILITARY OBSERVERS TO OVERSEE THE DISARMAMENT PROCESS. G.    THE EXTENDED JOINT VERIFICATION MECHANISM AND THE JOINT INTELLIGENCE FUSION CENTRE OF THE ICGLR SHOULD URGENTLY DEPLOY TO BURUNDI TO VERIFY ALLEGATIONS OF THE PRESENCE OF FDLR IN THE COUNTRY. H.    THE AU IS URGENTLY REQUESTED TO CONSIDER AND ENDORSE THESE DECISIONS. 6.    THE SUMMIT CALLED UPON AFRICAN UNION, THE UNITED NATIONS AND ALL OTHER PARTNERS TO COOPERATE WITH THE EAC TOWARDS THE ATTAINMENT OF THESE DECISIONS. 7.    ON BEHALF OF ATTENDEES OF THE SUMMIT, H.E. PRESIDENT YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA THANKED H.E. PRESIDENT JAKAYA MRISHO KIKWETE OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA FOR THE WARM AND CORDIAL HOSPITALITY EXTENDED TO THEM AND THEIR RESPECTIVE DELEGATIONS DURING THEIR STAY IN TANZANIA. DONE AT DAR ES SALAAM ON THIS 6TH DAY OF JULY, 2015. EAC SECRETARIAT ARUSHA, TANZANIA JULY, 2015