Update, 4:15 p.m.: Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza and the opposition political leaders agreed to discuss the political crisis that started last April, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon reportedly said Tuesday.
Ban met with Nkurunziza and opposition leaders at the Burundian capital Bujumbura and said both sides have agreed to "inclusive dialogue" and the president "confirmed, that he would engage in political dialogue," Agence-France Presse reports.
Original Story:
At least 12 people were reportedly injured when 10 grenade bombs exploded across Burundi's capital city Bujumbura Monday night. The incident occurred a day before United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's meeting with President Pierre Nkurunziza Tuesday.
"Last night, 10 grenades exploded in several districts of Bujumbura, leave a dozen people wounded," a senior police officer told Agence-France Presse on condition of anonymity.
The overnight grenade blasts followed attacks earlier Sunday and Monday, in which at least four people were killed in the national capital that is reeling under a political crisis since April last year. This is a fresh unrest in Burundi after over a decade-long civil war ended in 2005. At least 300,000 people were reportedly killed in the civil war that started in 1993.
Nkurunziza's decision to run for presidential elections for a third term last year sparked protests in the African nation. After his victory in the elections in July 2015, the unrest became worse as the supporters of the government and opponents indulged in violent clashes.
The critics launched a protest against the government claiming that Nkurunziza violated a peace deal struck to end the civil war, by taking charge of the presidential office for a third term, according to Reuters.
Ban to meet Nkurunziza
UN chief Ban will meet Nkurunziza and facilitate a dialogue between the government and the opposition parties to end the unrest. Ahead of his meeting with the Burundian president, Ban will meet other political and civic group leaders.
"This is a very important visit because we hope the UN Secretary-General will bring his weight to bear on President Pierre Nkurunziza so he finally accepts an inclusive and unconditional dialogue with his opponents," a UN official told AFP.
The Burundian president has been reluctant to negotiate with the opposition coalition — CNARED. He has claimed that some members of the coalition attempted a coup in May last year.
Chairman of CNARED Leonard Nyangoma, on the other hand, said that Ban should bring up the matter of human rights violations since the inception of the fresh crisis in the country and allegation of mass graves during the meet with Nkurunziza.
"There must be unconditional dialogue and this is what Ban Ki-moon should tell Nkurunziza," Nyangoma told AFP.
The fresh unrest in Burundi has led to the death of over 400 people, while more than 200,000 citizens took refuge in neighbouring nations, including Rwanda, the UN said.