UN Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Michel Kafando of Burkina Faso as his Special Envoy on Burundi – 05 May 2017.

Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Michel Kafando of Burkina Faso as his Special Envoy on Burundi on 5 May 2017.

Mr. Kafando’s role will include leading and coordinating the UN political efforts to promote peace and sustainable development in Burundi. Additionally, he will provide assistance to the efforts of the East African Community for political dialogue among Burundi stakeholders.

The United Nations has been present in Burundi under mandate by the Security Council since 2004, in support of national reconciliation efforts following the Arusha Peace Accords of 2000.

On March 13th, the members of the UN Security Council commended regional efforts to help Burundians find political solutions and reiterated their support to the facilitation led by former President Benjamin Mkapa under the mediation of President [Yoweri] Museveni, in his capacity as Chair of the East African Community.

Furthermore, at the end of the 18th Ordinary Summit of the East African Community, held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on May 20th day 2017, a joint communiqué was adopted and mentioned:

The heads of state received a progress report from H.E. Benjamin William Mkapa, the facilitator of the inter-Burundi dialogue and thanked him for his commitment to the dialogue. The summit fully endorsed the assessment and adopted the report.

The heads of state received an update and clarifications from the 1st vice president of the republic of Burundi on the political situation in the republic of Burundi and the inter-Burundi dialogue.