/ 7 June 2000

Mandela meets Burundi leader

Former president Nelson Mandela will meet Burundi military strongman Pierre Buyoya on Wednesday for talks aimed at ending a war that has claimed over 200000 lives in the central African nation. Officials at the talks said Buyoya, accompanied by his defence minister and the speaker of Burundi’s parliament, will discuss integration of Hutu rebels into his Tutsi-dominated army, power sharing, political prisoners and demands to close internment camps for Hutus. Mandela wants Buyoya to shut down “Nazi-style” regroupment camps for Hutus, which have been condemned by the United Nations and human rights groups. The filthy camps house more than 350000 Hutus.