In Burundi, Security Council delegation lauds success of political transition

Calling Burundi an example of political success for the Central African region and beyond, the leader of a United Nations Security Council delegation on a fact-finding trip through Central Africa has pledged support for the country, emerging from ethnic clashes, as it undertakes the challenging recovery effort.

"We come to render homage to the Burundian people and their representatives who knew how to develop an approach based on dialogue, sharing and consensus and has succeeded remarkably in completing this transition," the Permanent Representative of France, Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sablière, told journalists in Burundi's capital, Bujumbura, after the delegation arrived yesterday.

In that regard, Burundi still had to complete disarmament, the rebel political holdout National Liberation Forces (FNL) should rejoin the peace camp and reconstruction must go forward, he said.

The Council was also supporting the UN Operations in Burundi (ONUB), which had supported Burundi remarkably in its efforts, and it was also scheduled to meet the recently elected President of the Republic and the Government, Mr. de La Sablière said.

The delegation's 10-day schedule includes visits to Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda, which have had conflicts, and Tanzania, which has acted as both mediator and refugee host.