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Burundi: Combatant's demobilisation boosts Burundi peace process
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BuaNews (Tshwane)
21 July 2008
Posted to the web 21 July 2008
Michael Appel
Pretoria
The recent movement of 2 000 Palipehutu-FNL combatants into the Rugazi Assembly Area is highly encouraging, says Chairman of the Burundi Political Directoratem, Ambassador Kingsley Mamabolo.
"This is an important step forward in the Burundi Peace Process and opens the way for the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) process to begin.
"It is expected that more Palipehutu-FNL combatants will move into the assembly areas in the coming days, which would confirm that the peace process is firmly on track," said the ambassador in a statement on Monday.
He highlighted that Monday's action, along with reciprocal action from the government of Burundi, will further speed up the process of peace and stability.
"The Political Directorate calls on both the government and the Palipehutu-FNL to move with haste in completing this phase of the process so that the country can focus beyond the peace process towards the economic recovery and development of Burundi," he said.
The directorate will continue with its work in the coming weeks in the positive and constructive atmosphere that has been created by the recent developments.
In 2006, South Africa was asked to facilitate negotiations between the government of Burundi and the rebel group.
Last year, Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula and his negotiation team were able to get the two parties to sign a Comprehensive Ceasefire Agreement.
In terms of the agreement, South Africa had to facilitate a process that was going to see the demobilisation and the reintegration of members, combatants of the Palipehutu-FNL into government organs.
However, this was not completed due to certain difficulties, and on 27 July last year the Palipehutu-FNL walked out of the Joint Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JVMM) which is the vehicle for the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.
Speaking at a briefing in March earlier this year, 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 an action plan which was developed by the facilitation team, and is divided into two six-month periods.
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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.
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