BUJUMBURA, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Union for National Progres (UPRONA), also party that fought for Burundi's independence, has called on Burundian citizens living in exile to return home, the party chairman said Wednesday in a statement.
"The year 2016 ends at a time when Burundi is enjoying peace and security despite citizens' poverty. The UPRONA therefore calls on citizens who fled the country to come back and celebrate the festive season with their families that they left here (in Burundi)," said UPRONA Chairman Abel Gashatsi.
He urged the Burundian government to take "adequate" measures to ensure their security.
According to him, the repatriation of Burundian citizens who live in exile would contribute to "democracy consolidation" and to the reconstruction of the east African nation.
Burundi plunged in a crisis since April 2015 when Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza decided to run his controversial third term in violation of the national constitution and the 2000 Arusha Agreement that ended a decade-long civil war.
More than 500 people in Burundi have been killed and about 300,000 people fled to neighboring countries, mostly Tanzania, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) and Uganda since the outbreak of the crisis.
