The Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Burundi (OSESG-B) organized a one-day retreat on Friday, January 25, 2019 at the Lake Tanganyika Club.

The purpose of the retreat was to take stock of past operations and challenges with a view to better planning for fiscal year 2019/2020.

In his opening remarks, the Special Envoy, former Burkinabe President Michel KAFANDO highly commended staff in Bujumbura, Ouagadougou and Dar es Salaam for the work accomplished so far. He nonetheless exhorted them to redouble efforts in their respective functions.

“It is my hope that we come up with new ideas that will enrich and guide our work throughout the year 2019,” he said. “Ideas that could better inform the Secretary General in his recommendations to the Security Council concerning UN support to efforts towards a lasting settlement of the political crisis in Burundi."

The Special Envoy noted significant progress, both nationally and internationally, in moving the inter-Burundian dialogue forward. He cited a series of sessions organized by the Facilitator of the talks, former Tanzanian President Benjamin William Mkapa, culminating in a report which was submitted to the Heads of State of the East African Community (EAC).

He insisted, however, that efforts must be made to reach the goal desired by the people of Burundi and the international community at large, namely consensus between the parties in the dialogue in view of the 2020 general elections.

A 2019 draft Action Plan for OSESG-B was reviewed and adopted at the retreat.

In accordance with Resolutions 2248 (2015) and 2279 (2016) of the Security Council, OSESG-B is mandated to provide political, technical, substantive and financial support to the inter-Burundian dialogue, a regional peace initiative led by the EAC.