As the Burundian peace summit entered its third day in Tanzania this week, one of the warring rebel factions claimed to have captured 72 government troops in two months of fighting.
An army spokesperson, however, dismissed the claims by the larger of the two factions of the Forces for the Defence of Democracy (FDD), led by Jean Bosco Ndayikengurukiye.
The captured soldiers, including three who were reportedly wounded, are allegedly being held in the southern rebel stronghold of Makamba.
The ceasefire talks between a Burundian government delegation and the other faction of the FDD — the CNDD-FDD led by Pierre Nkurunziza — are facilitated by South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma and the Deputy Foreign Minister of Gabon, Jean-Francois Ndongu. All the rebel groups had been invited to participate.
The talks are considered key to the survival of Burundi’s transitional government, which took office last November to implement the August 2000 power-sharing agreement worked out between political parties from Burundi’s Hutu majority and Tutsi minority.
The agreement was signed by Burundian President Pierre Buyoya, the National Assembly and 17 political parties representing both the Hutus and the Tutsis. But the Hutu rebels did not take part in the peace process, and the accord does not provide for a ceasefire.
This week Zuma said the negotiations, set out for three weeks, were the last round before the Great Lakes regional summit on Burundi, which will decide on the way forward in the resolution of the conflict.
”I hope that within the period given to us we are going to conclude this matter, for the sake of the people of Burundi — to save their lives and to bring about peace and stability. The people of Burundi are looking up to us to reach an agreement.”
Additional reporting by Sapa