U.N. General Secretary hails Dar over Burundi crisis mediation

U.N. Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres yesterday night made a brief stopover in Dar es Salaam from Somalia and Kenya where he had gone for a working visit.

The UN boss was met and held a brief discussion with Foreign Affairs Minister, Augustine Mahiga at Julius Nyerere International Airport.

Delivering President Magufuli’s message to the United Nations Secretary General, Mahiga said that as the chair of EAC, Tanzania is optimistic over the Burundi crisis mediation process under the leadership of President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and facilitated by former President of Tanzania, Benjamin Mkapa.

Minister Mahiga also informed the UN Secretary General that the upcoming EAC Summit is expected to receive a progressive report about the process.

SG Guterres praised Tanzania for its ability to uphold principles of good governance as well as maintaining peace and creating a peaceful environment in the EAC and SADC regions.

He commended President Magufuli’s efforts in the Burundi peace process, and his readiness to host refugees from that country, emphasizing the role played by regional communities in Africa in resolving leadership crisis in the continent.

“The United Nations appreciates the work done by President Mkapa in Burundi under the EAC and its leadership. If the region comes together the way EAC has done in the case of Burundi, I am sure together they will be able to establish lasting solutions,” he remarked.