Situation Report: Mapping the Road to Peace in Burundi: The Pretoria Sessions, Henri Boshoff and Jean-Marie Gasana

From 8 October to 2 November 2003 South African peace-brokers finally succeeded in helping the Transitional Government of Burundi (TGoB) and the rebel Forces for the Defence of Democracy- Forces for Defence of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) reach agreement on two critical protocols: the 8 October “Protocol on Political, Defence and Security Power Sharing in Burundi” and the 2 November “Protocol on Outstanding Political, Defence and Security Power Sharing issues in Burundi”. In addition, on 2 November 2003, the parties were finally able to overcome what has been perhaps the major stumbling block in the Burundi peace process: the “Forces Technical Agreement” (FTA). After two day-and-night long meetings, in which South African President Thabo Mbeki personally participated as mediator, the parties reached agreement on an essential framework for the ‘inclusive’ reform of Burundi’s security institutions. The FTA was officially signed in Dar es Salaam on 16 November 2003 under the framework of the Arusha Accord. The Global Ceasefire Agreement of 16 November 2003 finalised the political, defence and power sharing agreements signed in Pretoria on 8 October and on 2 November 2003.