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Minister Nqakula to Visit Burundi and Tanzania 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, that 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. Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853 Department
of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001 18 September
2006
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