Elections in Burundi should be delayed by at least a month and a half and all violence must stop, East African leaders said on Sunday after a regional summit on the crisis. The leaders, however, stopped short of calling for Burundian president Pierre Nkurunziza to abandon his controversial bid for a third consecutive term, which has sparked weeks of civil unrest, a coup attempt and a refugee crisis. “The summit, concerned at the impasse in Burundi, strongly calls for a long postponement of the elections not less than a month and a half,” the East African Community (EAC) said in a statement read out by Richard Sezibera, its secretary general, after the meeting of regional leaders in Tanzania.
The statement called “on all parties to stop violence,” for the “disarmament of all armed youth groups” – a clear reference to ruling party supporters accused of attacking opponents – and for “the creation of conditions for the return of refugees” who have fled the turmoil.
Full Article: Burundi urged to delay election and end violence by regional summit – Telegraph.