NAIROBI: Burundi’s government will not take part in peace talks with the opposition scheduled for Wednesday because it holds some of the participants responsible for recent months of violence, a senior official said.

The talks in neighboring Tanzania were announced last month as part of regional efforts to resolve a crisis triggered by President Pierre Nkurunziza’s decision to run for a third term in office, a move opponents said broke the constitution.

International monitors say they fear Burundi could be headed for civil war.

The government refused to join the talks due to the inclusion of “those who are supporting violence,” Joseph Bangurambona, the permanent secretary in Burundi’s foreign affairs ministry, said.

“No dialogue tomorrow, neither on Jan. 16 as many may think, because there has been no consensus on that date,” Bangurambona told Reuters on Tuesday.

He said the government was particularly opposed to the inclusion of Carine Kaneza, representing Burundian women, adding the government did not recognise her role or the organization she represents.