Annan applauds ceasefire deal between Burundi and its last key rebel group

Welcoming the signing of a ceasefire agreement in Burundi between the Government and the country’s last remaining major rebel group, Secretary-General Kofi Annan today called on both sides to implement the agreement and try to consolidate peace in the strife-torn and impoverished African nation.

The deal between the Burundian Government and the Palipehutu-Forces Nationale de Libération (FNL), reached in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, yesterday, is designed to end 13 years of armed conflict and follows a preliminary agreement between the two parties in June.

In a statement issued by his spokesman, Mr. Annan called for the ceasefire agreement to be implemented “expeditiously and in good faith.” He stressed that this would be “vital for the consolidation of peace in Burundi and the overall stability of the Great Lakes region.”

The FNL was the last of the major rebel groups in Burundi to reach a ceasefire with the Government following more than a decade of armed ethnic conflict between the Hutu majority and the Tutsi minority.

Noting the importance of upholding human rights and the rule of law, the Secretary-General added that the UN stands ready to support the agreement and the two sides as they resolve any outstanding issues.

The statement also voiced Mr. Annan’s appreciation for the efforts of the Regional Initiative for Peace in Burundi and the South African Facilitation to help strike the ceasefire agreement.

Last month, citing concerns about continuing instability, the Security Council extended the mandate of the UN Operation in Burundi, known by its French acronym ONUB, through the end of this year.