Global perspective Human stories

Burundi: UN envoy ‘confident’ of final ceasefire despite rebels’ ‘second thoughts’

Burundi: UN envoy ‘confident’ of final ceasefire despite rebels’ ‘second thoughts’

Nureldin Satti
The top United Nations envoy in Burundi said today he remained confident that a final ceasefire would be signed between the Government and the last hold-out rebel faction despite reported rebel “second thoughts” in the small Central African country that has been torn by decades of ethnic and factional fighting.

“The situation in Burundi is improving in a significant manner,” Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Acting Special Representative Nureldin Satti told reporters in New York after briefing the Security Council.

“However I underline the fact that there are still major challenges that have to be addressed. The political situation despite the progress that has been made remains volatile to some extent,” he said.

He cited the agreement in principle signed earlier this month between the Government of Burundi and the National Liberation Forces (FNL), the last remaining major rebel group and noted that negotiations are going on in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to transform that pact into a comprehensive and final ceasefire.

“The FNL now is having second thoughts about some of the issues that have been signed,” he said referring to recent reports, “but I remain confident that the two sides, the Government and the FNL, are both committed to signing a comprehensive ceasefire agreement.”

He noted that Mr. Annan has recommended to the Council the establishment of an integrated UN office in Burundi following departure of the current UN Operation in Burundi (ONUB) 1 January and said details would be presented later.

ONUB has an authorized strength of 5,650 military personnel, 120 police personnel, 434 international civilian personnel, 170 UN Volunteers and 446 local civilian staff. Its current strength stands at 3,556 uniformed personnel, including 3,422 troops, 118 military observers and 16 police, supported by 312 international civilian personnel and 378 local civilian staff and 138 UN Volunteers.

Citing progress that has been achieved, Mr. Satti stressed that there was now an elected Government that has started working on major political, judicial, socio-economic and security reforms.

But he noted that there was a need to better address the relationship between the ruling majority party and the opposition parties and for a “consistent and all-embracing plan” for army and police reform.

ONUB was set up in May 2004 to support efforts undertaken by Burundians to restore lasting peace and bring about national reconciliation after agreements signed between all major factions other than the FNL.