President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday urged the people and Government of Burundi to explore dialogue in resolving the current political differences in the country.

Receiving the former Burundian President, Mr. Pierre Buyoya, at the State House, President Buhari said Nigeria would continue to support peace processes in the continent through the African Union (AU), which had already intervened in Burundi.

The President said since President Pierre Nkurunziza rejected the proposal of a “stabilising force from the AU, we can’t impose it on him, but we will continue to opt for dialogue.”

“Nigeria has been playing a key role in the continent through the AU. We participated fully in ensuring a truce in Mali, and we want citizens to enjoy the impact of the truce, although the terrorists are not helping matters. Nigeria is always committed to regional and continental peace, and we will continue to do our best,” he said.

Buhari told the former President of Burundi, who is the High Representative of the AU Mission to Mali and the Sahel, that he remained hopeful that there would be an amicable solution to the situation in Burundi.

In his remarks, the former President commended Nigeria for the role it played in restoring peace to Mali, adding that the AU was working to promote security in the Sahel, particularly through fighting trans-border terrorism.

He also urged Nigeria to use its clout to work for peace in Burundi, warning that the “country is gradually inching towards a civil war.”

•State House Photo shows President Buhari welcoming former Burundian President, Mr. Pierre Buyoya, at the State House, Abuja . . . today.

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