-18-politics-Belgium sends envoy to Africa amid fears Burundi massacre

  • 12/15/2022
  • 23:01
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could spark more violence Brussels, Aug 19, SPA -- Belgian is dispatching a specialenvoy to central Africa in an attempt to calm risingtension in the region following the weekend massacre of atleast 160 refugees at a U.N. camp in Burundi. Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht late Wednesday expressed"very strong concern" about the situation in the borderregion between Burundi, Rwanda and Congo. Burundi and Rwanda on have threatened to send troops intoCongo to hunt down militiamen who attacked the camp forTutsi refugees from bases in eastern Congo. A Burundian Hutu rebel group has claimed responsibilityfor the killings, but Burundi's army chief accusedCongolese soldiers of joining in. Congo said it wanted to resolve the situationdiplomatically, but was ready "to react" if Burundian orRwandan troops crossed the border. Belgian officials said envoy Jan Mutton will fly Friday toCongo for urgent talks with authorities there beforeheading to Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and South Africa. Belgium was the colonial power in Congo, Rwanda andBurundi until the early 1960s and has sought to maintainclose ties with them.--more1415 Local Time 1115 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/193260

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