31 May 2006: ISS Today: Burundi in Talks With Last Rebels
29 May 2006: Burundi in Talks With Last Rebels
BBC NEWS
Peace talks between the government of Burundi and the National Liberation Forces (Forces nationales de libération) - FNL, the country`s remaining rebel group, began on Monday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, under the mediation of South Africa`s Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula, with a call to end the more than 12 years of bloody civil war. FNL is Burundi’s last active Hutu rebel group. In his opening speech at the start of the talks, the Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete reminded the Burundian parties of the opportunity before them to effect an inclusive and conclusive political dispensation in Burundi, adding that they (Burundian parties) had the choice of either heeding the folly of triumphalism and driving their country to ruins by sounding the death knell for dialogue and letting the guns usurp the place of reason, or choosing to honour the toil of Julius Nyerere and Nelson Mandela, who worked hard for peace in Burundi, by agreeing to negotiate earnestly and concluding a peace deal.
Burundi’s Home Affairs Minister, Evariste Ndayishimiye, confirmed the government’s commitment towards the search for lasting peace in the country, adding that if the FNL factions cooperated, an agreement could be reached. The representatives of the African Union, the United Nations, the governments of the Great Lakes countries and various diplomats are also attending the talks.
Commentary
The renewal of negotiations between the government of Burundi and FNL is a positive development towards the ending of factional armed conflict in the country. The talks, expected to culminate into a peace agreement will mark the second major positive political transformation for Burundians in two years in a row, coming after the August 2005 democratic presidential elections during which the members of the National Assembly and Senate chose, and overwhelmingly endorsed, a five year term for Pierre Nkurunziza of the National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy (Conseil National Pour la Défense de la Démocratie–Forces pour la Défense de la Démocratie) - CNDD-FDD, also a former rebel group.
The only conspicuously absent party to the current peace talks is the FNL faction led by Jean Bosco Sindayigaya. The FNL split into two factions in 2005, with one faction led by Sindayigaya and another by Agathon Rwasa. While the former has stopped fighting, the latter has been active in the Burundian provinces of Bujumbura Rural and Bubanza, where his forces have frequently clashed with the army. At one time peace appeared to be in sight until suddenly fighting between the government and FNL resumed in May 2005, just one week after the two sides signed an agreement.
The current receptiveness of Rwasa’s faction to the negotiations, as well as the government’s willingness to respond positively to the talks, creates a favourable ambiance where both parties, with the support of the African Union, the United Nations and other members of the international community should be able to reach a long lasting peace agreement for the interest of the people of Burundi. Whatever the outcome of these negotiations, it is clear that Burundi has embarked on the final route to lasting peace.
Nelson Alusala
