International summit tells Nkurunziza to postpone Burundi polls

President Pierre Nkurunziza

President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi

President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi
President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi

An international summit for Africa’s Great Lakes Region, has called on President Pierre Nkurunziza to postpone legislative, local government and presidential polls scheduled to hold in Burundi in May and June this year.

South African President Jacob Zuma said the heads of state, who attended the summit, decided that the elections be postponed indefinitely until the country regained its stability.

Zuma made the statement on Tuesday at the end of the summit held in Luanda, Angola.

He said a delegation of heads of state from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa would visit Burundi to assist in peaceful resolution of the crisis.

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He said the summit also decided that the conflict between the opposition and Nkurunziza should be settled peacefully.

Meanwhile, the EU, U.S. and East African Community, have voiced their support for the postponement of the elections.

The United Nations reported that nearly 105,000 Burundians have fled the violence to neighbouring countries with thousands seeking refuge in neighboring Tanzania.

The World Health Organisation also warned that the country was at risk of severe humanitarian crisis, citing limited camping space, poor hygiene and lack of sanitation facilities and drinking water.

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