President John Magufuli of Tanzania on Thursday
appealed to the UN to continue its support in bringing about peace and
political stability in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Magufuli made the
appeal to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres when he made a stopover on his
way from Kenya to New York, the headquarters of the UN.
The president said the
recent instability in the two countries has created refugees’ influx in
Tanzania and its neighbors, calling for the need to restore political
stability.
The message to the UN
chief was delivered by the east African nation’s Minister for Foreign Affairs
Augustine Mahiga.
Mahiga said as the
chair the East African Community (EAC), Tanzania was hopeful with the progress
made in the mediation process in Burundi under the leadership of President
Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and facilitated by former Tanzanian President
Benjamin Mkapa.
Mahiga also told
Guterres that the forthcoming EAC Summit was expected to receive a progress
report on the mediation process.
With regards to the
DRC, Mahiga revealed that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) was
intending to include the agenda of political transition in DRC, whereby SADC
member states were expecting positive deliberations.
Tanzania is the current
chair of the SADC organ of political, defence and security with the mandate to
support the achievement and maintenance of peace and security as well as the
rule of law in the SADC region.
For his part, Guterres
praised Tanzania for its ability to uphold principles of good governance in the
country as well as maintaining peace and creating a peaceful environment in the
EAC and SADC regions.
Guterres commended
President Magufuli’s efforts in the Burundi peace process, and his readiness to
host refugees from Burundi, emphasizing the role played by regional communities
in Africa in resolving leadership crisis in African countries.
“The UN appreciates the
work done by President Mkapa in Burundi under the EAC and its leadership.
“If the region come
together the way EAC has done in the case of Burundi, I am sure together they
will be able to establish lasting solutions,” said the former UN High
Commissioner for Refugees.
Magufuli met Guterres
during the AU Summit in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa early this year,
where the two leaders exchanged cordial discussions about various issues
concerning the region.
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