to visit Burundi and Tanzania
18 September 2006
Pretoria - The Facilitator of the Burundi Peace Process, South African
Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula will visit Burundi and Tanzania
on Tuesday 19 September 2006.
The visit comes within the context of the need for the Facilitator to engage
with all role-players, including the government of Burundi and the
Paliphehutu-FNL, with a view to the implementation of the 7 September 2006
cease-fire agreement between the government of Burundi and the
Paliphehutu-FNL.
In this regard, South Africa has committed itself to assisting the people of
Burundi in post-conflict reconstruction and development initiatives.
The visit to Tanzania and Burundi follows shortly on the recent workshop
held in Johannesburg to assess the way forward for the implementation of the 7
September agreement. This agreement mandated the government of Burundi and the
Paliphehutu-FNL to cease passive and aggressive activities within 72 hours of
the signing which included, among others, all military activities and
propaganda.
Accordingly hundreds of the Paliphehutu-FNL combatants are moving from their
areas of operation in compliance with this agreement. The Facilitator will, in
his deliberations with the governments of Burundi and Tanzania, discuss areas
of cantonment and assembly points, registration of food provision and security
for these combatants.
The Facilitator will be joined by representatives of the United Nations,
African Union and other donor organisations that will assist with providing
food, healthcare and securing the welfare of the combatants.
The Facilitator is expected to convene a meeting in Burundi of the donor
community to discuss their support for this process.
Enquires: Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
18 September 2006
