BuaNews (Tshwane)
Michael Appel
10 March 2008
Tshwane — South Africa has expressed hope that its proposed Programme of Action (POA) will bring peace to Burundi, a country which has seen ongoing violence since its independence in 1962.
Supported by both regional organisations and the international community, the POA maps the way forward for Burundi. "We are hopeful that maybe this time we can get it," said South Africa's Special Envoy to Burundi Ambassador Kingsley Mamabolo recently, during a media briefing on the ongoing peace mediations in that country.
The ambassador said peace efforts in Burundi were a complex matter. "One day you think you're winning and the next day you have problems," he said. In 2006, South Africa was asked to facilitate negotiations between the government of Burundi and the rebel group Paliphehutu-FNL. Last year, Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula said that South Africa was able to get the two parties to sign a Comprehensive Ceasefire Agreement.
In terms of that agreement, South Africa had to facilitate a process that was going to see the demobilisation and the reintegration of members, combatants of the Paliphehutu-FNL into government organs.
However, this was not completed due to certain difficulties and on 27 July 2007 the Paliphehutu-FNL walked out of the Joint Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JVMM) which is the vehicle for the implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement.
Mr Mamabolo explained that the party pulled out of the peace negotiations because of concerns surrounding security and because they felt not enough political issues were being dealt with. South Africa, he said, has now drafted a POA which was developed by the facilitation team, and is divided into two six-month periods.
The first six months will focus on the implementation and completion of the Disarmament Demobilisation Reintegration process, while the last six months will see a shift towards development and the absorption of those combatants who did not enter the armed forces, into other state organs.
South Africa has for the first time met some senior military commanders within the rebel group, which is a sign that they are serious about the peace process, said Mr Mamabolo. Speaking at a recent seminar of Special Representatives and Envoys dealing with Burundi, Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Sue Van Der Merwe said in addition to Burundi, South Africa was involved in peace keeping efforts in 10 other countries.
These countries include the Comoros, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Rwanda, Eritrea/Ethiopia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan and Cote d'Ivoire. "Reflecting on our own experience based on our involvement in peace operations in the continent and beyond, we have come to appreciate the complexity and multidimensional nature of African conflicts.
"Bringing an end to the destruction associated with it, requires a complex integration and structuring of a number of capabilities and functions.
"Over the last two years, our government has been grappling with finding ways and means to address the challenges associated with producing effective and efficient integrated peace missions," said Ms van der Merwe.
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