Burundi talks peace in SA

2002-04-19 16:44

Bujumbura - Burundi's government and the minority wing of one active rebel movement are engaged in peace negotiations in South Africa, a foreign ministry official said on Friday.

A team consisting of presidential advisor Ambroise Niyonsaba and two army officers began talks on Wednesday with the wing of the Forces for the Defence of Democracy (FDD) led by Jean-Bosco Ndayikengurukiye, the source said.

The aim was to bring about a ceasefire between the Hutu rebels and the mainly ethnic Tutsi army, added the source, who asked not to be named.

An aide to President Pierre Buyoya said the government "wants to include everyone in these negotiations. The war should not continue tomorrow because we left a group out."

But Pierre Nkurunziza, leader of the most active FDD wing still fighting in the central African country, condemned the talks in South Africa and said that his side would be going there to meet Buyoya's government as of Monday.

"We'll be at the rendezvous," Nkurunziza said.

The FDD and another rebel movement, the National Liberation Forces (FNL), have to date refused to sign a peace accord reached in August 2000 among the other parties to the civil war in Burundi, which broke out in October 1993.

SA closely involved

South Africa has been closely involved in peace negotiations, which have already led to the formation of a transition government involving politicians from all sides in November last year.

A western diplomat in Bujumbura said the negotiations with the Nkurunziza wing of the FDD were "crucial".

"The only point on the agenda will be a ceasefire draft project drawn up by the South African army and military experts from the United Nations," the diplomat added.

Members of the UN Security Council will be in South Africa from April 27, "two days before the end of the negotiations, to exercise the maximum pressure", he added.

The same day, FNL representatives will be there to meet the mediator, South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma, a leader of the rebel movement, Jean Mugabarabona said, quoted on the private Bonesha radio station.

"We'll be meeting the Security Council delegation on April 27," the FNL official said, "but we won't see the delegation from the transitional government, because they don't represent anyone."

Burundi's ethnic civil war has cost at least 250 000 lives since 1993. Most of the victims have been civilians. - Sapa-AFP

- SAPA