500 child soldiers disarmed

2004-12-30 21:20

Bujumbura - More than 2 000 former soldiers or rebels, including some 500 child soldiers, have been demobilised in Burundi since the start of a post-war rehabilitation plan vital to long-term peace, authorities said Tuesday.

General Libere Hicuburundi of the national demobilisation and rehabilitation (DDR) commission said 1 682 fighters voluntarily had come forward at Muranvya in central Burundi and Randa in the west.

"They have already returned to their native hills," he said in a reference to the topography, largely hills where Hutu and Tutsi communities live mainly in agricultural communities.

Demobilisation is a key element in restoring peace after a decade of civil war that broke in 1993 and claimed more than 300 000 lives in the central African state. A series of peace accords led to the end of the war last year.

General Hicuburundi said "509 children from rebel movements, mainly the FDD, have been demobilised from the Gitega centre" in central Burundi. "There are still 109 child soldiers in the centre, but we hope they'll be home in the coming week."

The demobilisation started four weeks ago after long delays because of logistical hitches and outstanding political issues.

- AFP