Talks to finalise the details of a power-sharing agreement for war-torn Burundi are to resume in Pretoria on Monday afternoon following a session which lasted right through Sunday night, a government spokesperson said. ”They adjourned at 6.30am and are to reconvene at 4pm to deliberate the outstanding issues,” said Deputy President Jacob Zuma’s spokesperson, Lakela Kaunda.
Zuma and President Thabo Mbeki acted as facilitators for the talks between Burundi’s transitional president Domitien Ndayizeye and Pierre Nkurunziza — leader of the Forces for the Defence of Democracy (FDD) rebel group.
The discussions started at 11am on Sunday at the Presidential Guest House, with Mbeki joining the deliberations about five hours later. Kaunda said Zuma was upbeat on Monday morning about what he described as a very fruitful night. ”He said a lot of progress has been made and he was looking forward to the meeting reconvening,” she said.
Outstanding matters to be discussed in the afternoon revolved around the distribution of power in the military and the government. In terms of a ceasefire agreement signed last December, the FDD was to participate in transitional institutions such as the government, national assembly and security apparatus.
In a statement last week, the South African foreign affairs department said the latest round of talks were to work out areas of participation and integration.
The FDD was reportedly demanding the post of vice-president, 28 cabinet posts, 40 % of the seats in parliament, the chief of army staff, half the officer corps and 40% of the troops. The rival parties also met in August, when Zuma said progress had been made.
Civil war broke out in Burundi in October 1993 when militia of the Tutsi minority killed the country’s first democratically-elected president, Melchior Ndadaye, a Hutu. The violence is estimated to have claimed about 300 000 lives, mostly civilians. A transitional government has been set up to guide the country to democratic elections. It entered its final phase on May 1 when Ndayizeye, a Hutu, took over the presidency from Pierre Buyoya, a Tutsi. Violent clashes have continued despite the December ceasefire pact. – Sapa