THE most active wing of Burundian rebel group the Forces for the Defence of Democracy (FDD) on Monday rejected the mediation of South African Vice President Jacob Zuma, accusing him of bias, and called for ceasefire talks to move elsewhere.
Zuma ”has shown himself to be biased in espousing the views of the government” of Burundi President Pierre Buyoya, said Pierre Nkurunziza, head of this wing of the FDD.
Nkurunziza accused Zuma of badly organising the negotiations by not dealing with the ”real belligerents” and of interfering in the movement’s internal affairs.
The group said further negotiations aimed at eventually reaching a ceasefire with the Burundian army should take place outside South Africa, ideally in Tanzania, which has long played a mediating role in Burundi’s devastating civil war.
”We don’t accept Zuma any more,” said Nkurunziza.
”We are going to suggest someone else,” he said, adding that he had no problems with parallel mediation efforts of President Omar Bongo of Gabon.
Last month Nkurunziza accused Zuma of ”sabotaging peace negotiations.”
In April, a rival, less militarily active FDD wing led by Jean-Bosco Ndayikengurukiye held negotiations with the Buyoya-led transitional government, which was set up in November.
Burundi’s civil war, which pits Hutu rebels against an army dominated by the Tutsi minority, has killed around 250 000 people since 1993.
Government representative Albert Mbonerane said ceasefire talks should not be held up over the question of the venue.
”We could imagine leaving South Africa, even for Tanzania, as long as the FDD rebels obtain the agreement of the mediators, who will then take care to advise other parties,” he said.
”If tomorrow, the FDD manage to convince (chief mediator and former South African president Nelson) Mandela and the international community to disqualify Vice President Zuma, the government will have its say then,” added Mbonerane. ? Sapa