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Burundi: Security Council learns of great advances towards peace

Burundi: Security Council learns of great advances towards peace

Burundi has made tremendous advances towards peace and stability over the last year, but now faces challenges from the disarmament and reintegration of combatants and the return of refugees, the facilitator of the country's peace process told the United Nations Security Council today.

Jacob Zuma, who is also Deputy President of South Africa, told an open meeting of the Council in New York that the recent ceasefire in Burundi - which has been plagued by civil strife for a decade - has led to a mood of optimism and great expectations.

"The Burundi peace process has entered a decisive and irreversible stage," he said.

Last month Burundi's transitional government and its biggest rebel group, le Conseil National pour la Défense de la Démocratie/Force pour la Défense de la Démocratie (CNDD-FDD), signed a ceasefire agreement that also allows representatives of CNDD-FDD to enter the government and integrate the two armies.

Mr. Zuma said the level of violence had fallen sharply, adding it was time for the UN to take over peacekeeping operations in the country from the African Union. He also called for greater financial support from the international community for the peace process.

He said Burundi faced serious challenges of disarming, demobilizing and reintegrating combatants and coordinating returning refugees and internally displaced people.

Gert Rosenthal of Guatemala, the UN Economic and Social Council's President, said the UN could "play a catalytic role" to support Burundi's stability and subsequent development.

In response, several Council members expressed concern that the rebel group Parti pour la liberation du people hutu-Forces nationals de liberation-Agathon Rwasa (PALIPEHUTU-FNL) had not joined the peace process.