President Thabo Mbeki to Witness Signing between Burundi Parties in Tanzania

Pretoria - South African President Thabo Mbeki, supported by Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad, will on Saturday 17 June 2006 depart for Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania where he will join regional leaders in witnessing the signing of an Agreement on Political and Military Principles between the Government of Burundi and the Palipehutu/FNL scheduled for the same day.

President Mbeki will join Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete as Chair and Deputy Chair of the Regional Initiative of the Burundi Peace Process respectively. These leaders will also be joined by Facilitator of the Burundi Peace Process Minister Charles Nqakula and representatives of the African Union and United Nations.

The signing of the Agreement will pave the way for the Palipehutu/FNL to return to Burundi as a political party where it will join other roleplayers in the processes of post conflict reconstruction and development in the country.

The signing of this Agreement also represents the culmination of the process following a request by the leadership of the East African region of the African Union for South Africa to continue with mediation efforts in Burundi and the subsequent appointment by President Thabo Mbeki of Minister Charles Nqakula as Facilitator of the Burundi Peace Process.

President Mbeki will return to South Africa on Saturday 17 June 2006 ahead of his scheduled visit to Sudan, supported by Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, on Tuesday, 20 June 2006.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

16 June 2006