Thousands demobbed in Burundi

2005-03-11 19:33

Bujumbura - Authorities in Burundi said Friday that more than 5 600 former rebel and government fighters have been demobilised since December when a program to reduce the number of men under arms in the war-scarred country was launched.

The National Commission for Demobilisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (CNDRR) said 5 653 former combatants had been demobilised as of Thursday, most from the main ex-rebel group, the Forces for the Defence of Democracy (FDD).

Of the total, 3 464 were from the FDD, 1 853 from Burundi's former army, and 336 from an assortment of smaller former rebel groups.

Currently, there are close to 2 000 former fighters in cantonment sites waiting to either be demobilised or join the country's new military or police force, according to the army.

"If all goes well, we will demobilize between 16 000 and 20 000 men in the course of the year," said General Libere Hicuburundi, speaking for the CNDRR.

In December, Burundi's President Domitien Ndayizeye signed two laws enabling the creation of the new security forces, which are expected to absorb many of the ex-fighters.

The former army consisted of 43 000 soldiers and it is estimated that the six of Burundi's seven rebel groups to have signed peace deals with the government had some 27 000 fighters.

Of that total, about 20 000 are expected to join the country's new army, which will have 30 000 soldiers, and the new police force, which will have 20 000 officers, according to officials.

Burundi's new constitution, overwhelmingly endorsed in a nationwide referendum last month, calls for equal representation in the security forces for the country's majority Hutus and minority Tutsis, who have historically dominated the army.

Burundi is still struggling from the devastation of an 11-year civil war with a lone rebel group, the National Liberation Forces (FNL), still fighting.

On Friday, the army said three of its soldiers were wounded in an FNL attack in the northwestern town of Gihanga late on Thursday.

- AFP