EMERGENCY SUMMIT OF THE EAC HEADS OF STATE ON THE SITUATION IN BURUNDI

Theme: One People, One Destiny

1. THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY HEADS OF STATE, THEIR EXCELLENCIES PRESIDENT JAKAYA MRISHO KIKWETE OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, PRESIDENT YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA, PRESIDENT UHURU KENYATTA OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA, HON. ALAIN NYAMITWE, MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION REPRESENTING THE REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI, HON. VALENTINE RUGWABIZA, MINISTER FOR EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY, REPRESENTING THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA, HELD AN EMERGENCY MEETING OF THE SUMMIT OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY HEADS OF STATE ON THE SITUATION IN BURUNDI ON 31^ST MAY, 2015 AT THE STATE HOUSE CONFERENCE HALL IN DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA. 
    
2. THE SUMMIT WAS ALSO ATTENDED BY H.E. JACOB ZUMA, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA AND H.E. NKOSAZANA DLAMINI ZUMA, CHAIRPERSON OF THE AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION. IN ATTENDANCE WERE H.E. SAIDI DJINNIT, UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL'S SPECIAL ENVOY FOR THE GREAT LAKES REGION; HON. MINISTERS AND ATTORNEYS GENERAL OF THE EAC PARTNER STATES; THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY; THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GREAT LAKES REGION; AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COOPERATING PARTNERS.
    
3. THE HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT MET IN A WARM AND CORDIAL ATMOSPHERE.
4. THE SUMMIT RECEIVED THE REPORT OF THE MINISTERS/CABINET SECRETARIES OF THE EAC PARTNER STATES ON THE SITUATION IN BURUNDI.
    
5. THE SUMMIT RECEIVED AND CONSIDERED THE REPORT OF THE ATTORNEYS GENERAL/MINISTERS OF JUSTICE AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS.
6. THE SUMMIT RECEIVED A REPORT FROM HE SAIDI DJINNIT, UN SECRETARY GENERAL SPECIAL ENVOY FOR THE GREAT LAKES REGION. THE SUMMIT COMMENDED THE EFFORTS OF THE SPECIAL ENVOY WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY, INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GREAT LAKES REGION AND THE AFRICAN UNION TO PROMOTE DIALOGUE AND URGED HIM TO CONTINUE WITH THE INITIATIVE.
    
7. THE SUMMIT EXPRESSED SYMPATHY WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI FOLLOWING THE VIOLENCE IN BUJUMBURA AND OTHER PARTS OF BURUNDI WHICH HAS RESULTED  TO THE DEATHS OF MANY PEOPLE, INFLUX OF REFUGEES IN  NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES, DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY AND PARALYZING BUSINESSES IN SOME PARTS OF BURUNDI.
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9. THE SUMMIT WELCOMED THE RETURN TO CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER IN THE REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI AFTER THE ATTEMPTED COUP D'ETAT OF 13^TH MAY, 2015. 
   
10. THE SUMMIT WAS CONCERNED ON THE CONTINUED POLITICAL IMPASSE IN BURUNDI AND CALLED FOR A POSTPONEMENT OF THE ELECTIONS FOR A PERIOD NOT LESS THAN ONE AND A HALF MONTHS (1 ½). THE SUMMIT APPEALED TO INSTITUTIONS IN BURUNDI INCLUDING THE PARLIAMENT TO FACILITATE THIS POSTPONEMENT.
11. DURING THIS POSTPONEMENT, MEMBERS OF THE SUMMIT LED BY ITS CHAIRPERSON, WILL CONSULT WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS IN BURUNDI ON THE WAY FORWARD.
12. THE SUMMIT CALLS ON ALL PARTIES TO STOP VIOLENCE AND EXERCISE RESTRAINT DURING THIS PERIOD.
13. THE SUMMIT CALLS FOR URGENT DISARMAMENT OF ALL ARMED YOUTH GROUPS ALLIED TO POLITICAL PARTIES.
14. THE SUMMIT ENCOURAGED THE GOVERNMENT IN BURUNDI TO CREATE CONDUCIVE CONDITIONS FOR THE RETURN OF REFUGEES TO BURUNDI.
15. THE SUMMIT DIRECTED THE MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE EAC PARTNER STATES AND THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA TO URGENTLY COMMUNICATE THESE AND OTHER DECISIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT OF BURUNDI.
16. THE SUMMIT FURTHER DIRECTED THE MINISTERS TO ENGAGE ALL STAKEHOLDERS IN BURUNDI AND CONTINOUSLY REPORT PROGRESS TO THE SUMMIT.
17. THE SUMMIT EXPRESSED ITS SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF BURUNDI AND DECIDED TO ACTIVELY ACCOMPANY THEM IN THE EXERCISE OF THEIR DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS.
18. THE SUMMIT CALLED UPON THE AFRICAN UNION, THE UNITED NATIONS AND ALL OTHER PARTNERS TO COOPERATE WITH THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY TOWARDS THE ATTAINMENT OF THESE OBJECTIVES. 
      THEIR EXCELLENCIES PRESIDENT YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA, PRESIDENT UHURU KENYATTA OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA, AND PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA THANKED THEIR HOST, HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT JAKAYA MRISHO KIKWETE OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, FOR THE WARM AND CORDIAL HOSPITALITY EXTENDED TO THEM AND THEIR RESPECTIVE DELEGATIONS DURING THEIR STAY IN TANZANIA.

 DONE AT DAR ES SALAAM, ON THIS 31^ST DAY OF MAY 2015. 
  EAC SECRETARIAT ARUSHA, TANZANIA MAY 2015.