Washington, DC — Despite the fact that two Hutu rebel groups continue to wage war against the government, the peace in Burundi will hold and firm up, former South African President Nelson Mandela said Tuesday. Under a plan put together by Mandela, Burundi's Parliament, last week, approved creation of a new cabinet in which 14 of 26 portfolios will go to Hutus and 12 to Tutsis.
Under Mandela's plan, Burundi's President Pierre Buyoya - a Tutsi - will hold office for 18 months, then hand over to his deputy, Domitien Ndayizeye - a Hutu - for another 18 months of the three-year transitional government.
Tutsis who form 16 percent of Burundi's population had been "running the country," said Mandela. But that was no longer the case, he claimed. The main Hutu political party, Front for Democracy in Burundi (FRODEBU) is backed by 65 percent of the population, says Mandela. Hutu rebels "now have no justification" for continuing their armed rebellion. Mandela hopes internal pressure for peace will force the rebels to the table.
The new transitional government comes after five years of peace negotiations first begun by the late President of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere. "Credit for any breakthrough that has been made goes to Nyerere," said Mandela. "He did a remarkable job of bringing together leaders, making my task easier."
Six African nations have agreed to take young Burundi students into their national universities, the former South African President also said.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
In other remarks to reporters at the Embassy of South Africa, Tuesday, Mandela reiterated strong support for the U.S. military action in Afghanistan. "There was no other alternative for the United States but to go into Afghanistan in order to apprehend Bin Laden and his terrorist group. In that regard I support the United States without any reservation."
Several of Mandela's opening remarks were devoted to a sharp attack on the U.S. press for "unacceptable hostility toward the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia." The Saudi government led by Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, he said, had responded immediately with sympathy after the September 11 attack. The press, not President Bush, seemed to be attacking Saudi Arabia for not committing troops, said Mandela. But it was "unrealistic" he said, to expect Saudi Arabia, the "cradle of Islam", to send troops.
Mandela said Middle East peace sould depend on three steps:
* Israeli withdrawal from all territory captured during the 1967 six-day war
* Arab states "must make clear" that they recognize Israel's right to exist within secure boundaries
* A United Nations commitment to "making sure" these declarations are carried out.
Mandela also urged President Bush to meet with PLO Chair Yasser Arafat. "If he refuses to see Arafat and sees [Israeli Prime Minister Ariel] Sharon, it destroys any impression that the United States is neutral," he said.
Mandela will leave the United States for Canada, Wednesday, after talks on Burundi in New York.
