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Burundi: Mediator's Mandate Extended
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BuaNews (Tshwane)
11 February 2008
Posted to the web 11 February 2008
Pretoria
The mandate of South Africa's Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula to facilitate the peace talks in Burundi has been extended until the end of 2008.
Mr Nqakula recently met with the Regional Peace Initiative Presidents Yoweri Museveni and Jakaya Kikwete of Uganda and Tanzania respectively to discuss the extension of his mandate.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the facilitator's mandate will be split into two phases with the first six months focussing exclusively on the finalisation of the demobilisation, disarming and reintegration of the Palipehutu-FNL combatants into the country's defence force.
The second phase will involve assisting with the mechanisms aimed at implementing the agreed Political and Military Principles' adopted on 18 July 2006, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The second phase starting from June onwards will also be used to signal the start of post conflict reconstruction and development in Burundi which was embroiled in civil war for over a decade.
Subsequent to the meeting with the regional leadership, Mr Nqakula and a representative from Tanzania's foreign affairs met with the leadership of the Palipehutu-FNL in Tanzania on 5 February 2008.
At the meeting it was agreed that the Joint Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JVMM) project would resume as soon as possible and that the rebel group's leadership be allowed to return to Burundi.
The parties also agreed that any other political issues that may arise which do not fall under the JVMM would be addressed by the political Directorate established by Mr Nqakula.
The Political Directorate - to be chaired by South Africa's Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Ambassador Kingsley Mamabolo - will consist of representatives from the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU), South Africa's Ambassador to Burundi, and the Ambassador of Tanzania to Burundi.
The security minister will soon be travelling to Tanzania to convene the meeting of the political directorate and the Palipehutu-FNL, reported the DFA.
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It is envisaged that the political directorate be expanded to include the European Union (EU) representative and other role players most significantly senior representatives of the Government of Burundi and the Palipehutu-FNL.
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