Burundi peace urgent - Nqakula

2006-05-29 22:16

Pretoria - Obstacles preventing permanent peace in Burundi should be resolved urgently, said safety and security minister Charles Nqakula on Monday.

Addressing the Burundi government and the country's only remaining rebel group in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Nqakula said: "Peace for Burundi had become an urgent matter."

Nqakula was speaking at the launch of a new round of negotiations between the government and the Palipehutu-Forces for National Liberation (Palipehutu-FNL).

Following talks over the weekend, Nqakula commended them for having "slightly changed their views" to enable Monday's launch.

He is the mediator of the discussion which hopes to bring the Palipehutu-FNL into a United Nations-backed peace plan.

If implemented, the plan will end 12 years of conflict - that has killed 300 000 people - in the country.

He held separate meetings with the delegation of the government of Burundi, led by brigadier-general Evariste Ndayishimiye, and the Palipehutu-FNL delegation, represented by Agathon Rwasa, over the weekend.

Nqakula said: "It is the responsibility of the leaders on the African continent to ensure this African problem [Burundi peace process] receives the full attention of the African leaders so that, in the end, the solution for Burundi is an African solution."

- SAPA