31 July 2007
Bujumbura — On June 21st, 2007 The military leader of the National Liberation Forces (FNL), Jean Berchmans Ndayshimiye left Bujumbura and went back to the bush.
The spokesman Pasteur Habimana stated that the movement have asked the South African mediators to organise a regional summit in which President Nkurunziza and the Palipehutu-FNL leader Agathon Rwasa can sort out unresolved issues such as the release of FNL prisoners, and an accord on its role after its combatants are integrated into Burundi armed forces.
During the Donor's Roundtable Conference on Burundi which ran from May 24th to May 25th, 2007, Burundi government had presented a Priority Action Programme (PAP) whose first priority was the implementation of ceasefire with Palipehutu-FNL.
In an effort to put into action the PAP and to benefit the pledges addressed by Burundi parterners at the conference, President Nkurunziza had travelled to Tanzania on Sunday June 17th to meet Mr. Rwasa in order to unblock obstacles there might be to the implementation of the ceasefire agreement signed in September 2006. After private face-to-face talks the two leaders had agreed on the release of political prisoners, but this was never done as it is for the same reason the FNL decided to return to the bush.
Recall that at the Donors Roundtable Conference, Belgium announced 100 million Euros intended for the PAP (priority action plan) and 4 million Euros for the budgetary support, The Netherlands engaged for 22 million Euros each year for a total of 66 million Euros, Germany agreed to give a support of 60 million Euros, The United States promises 28,5 million US dollar each year over the period 2007-2008 totaling 75,5 million US dollar . Norway granted a budgetary support of 10 million Euros and 327 million Euros for (PAP) within the strategic framework of the fight against poverty.
President Nkurunziza is under pressure as his government might see these funds cancelled if it fails to come to an agreement with Palipehutu-FNL
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