General developments
During the most recent East African Community (EAC) Summit on Burundi, held Monday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni was appointed to facilitate dialogue among disputing parties. Museveni will be the third to try to resolve a seemingly intractable political crisis regarding a third-term bid by President Pierre Nkurunziza. President Museveni's appointment follows the Government of Burundi's criticism of the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Central Africa, Abdoulaye Bathily, as mediator, accusing him of bias based on the UN electoral observation mission’s (MENUB) conclusion“that the environment was not conducive for free, credible and inclusive” legislative elections held on 29 June. (MENUB also noted that it observed media freedom restrictions, violations of human rights and other fundamental freedoms.) Bathily replaced Said Djinnit, the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region, after the opposition rejected his mediation, accusing him of pro-Government bias. The EAC Summit also called for: a postponement of presidential elections from 15 to 30 July; the formation of a government of national unity regardless of who wins the elections; respect of the Arusha peace accord of 2000 and no attempts to amend the Constitution; an EAC electoral observer mission; and disarmament of armed groups, namely the Imbonerakure youth wing of the ruling CNDD-FDD political party. A reaction from the Government of Burundi is awaited, as are results from the 29 June legislative elections.