SA troops in Burundi 'costly'

2003-11-02 14:13

Johannesburg - South Africa has received no financial support from the UN or other donors for its SANDF troop deployments in Burundi, Democratic Alliance defence spokesperson Roy Jankielsohn said on Sunday.

The South African taxpayers would have to pay for these deployments until a political agreement had been reached, Jankielsohn said.

The United Nations was hesitant to get involved in the peace process in Burundi.

The deployment in Burundi was expected to cost about R679m in 2003, a further R564m in 2004, R771m in 2005 and about R600m in 2006.

"It is clear that South Africa has become involved in an open-ended process that will cost taxpayers a great deal of money," Jankielsohn said.

"A political agreement between all the parties to the conflict in Burundi is the only hope for a reprieve regarding at least some of the costs."

While the World Bank and other donors had pledged $90m for the demobilisation, disarmament, and reintegration process in Burundi, it was dependent on a political agreement between all conflicting groups.

- SAPA