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Pierre Nkurunziza

BUJUMBURA. — The United Nations yesterday appointed a Senegalese diplomat to facilitate talks between rival factions in Burundi’s political crisis after the opposition accused the previous mediator of bias.

The tiny east African country was plunged into turmoil in late April after President Pierre Nkurunziza said he would seek a third term.

Opposition protesters took to the streets for weeks, saying the move violates the constitution and a peace deal that ended an ethnically charged civil war in 2005.

The UN said in a statement that Abdoulaye Bathily, who is already the UN’s

Special Representative for Central Africa, would arrive in Bujumbura yesterday to help mediate talks.

“The secretary general has requested . . . Abdoulaye Bathily, to offer good offices in Burundi in support of regional efforts to reduce tensions and help Burundians peacefully settle their differences,” the UN said in a statement, referring to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

The previous UN mediator, Said Djinnit,

left the role after only a few weeks having faced criticism from the opposition that he was he was biased towards the government, a charge he dismissed.

Djinnit remains UN special envoy to the Great Lakes region.

A series of elections have been delayed by weeks of unrest and violent clashes between police and protesters, alarming a region which has a history of ethnic killing.

Government spokesman Philippe Nzobonariba welcomed Bathily’s appointment but warned Bujumbura would not budge on the timings of forthcoming parliamentary and presidential elections, due to take place on June 29 and July 15. — Reuters.