Interview with presidential military adviser

The recent replacement of Jean-Bosco Ndayikengurukiye as leader of the Conseil national pour la defense de la democratie-Forces pour la defense de la democratie (CNDD-FDD) has caused some instability within the party. As a result, the Burundi government has not been able to identify a person within the party with which it can negotiate a cease-fire in the eight-year civil war. In an interview on 19 October, the Burundi government's chief negotiator to the cease-fire talks, Col. Leonidas Nijimbere, told IRIN why. QUESTION: In view of the change of leadership in the CNDD-FDD, who is likely to be your interlocutor in the cease-fire talks or who is recognised between the former and current CNDD-FDD leader? ANSWER: Thank you. As you have just said I am the military adviser in the presidency. We do not have information on what is taking place within the rebel groups and now matters have become more complicated. However, we expect problems in the cease-fire negotiations because we no longer have any interlocutor. We are not sure Jean-Bosco [Ndayikengurukiye] still has a force behind him or whether he was overthrown and lost control of his forces in which case we would get a new interlocutor. We do not know whether the new leaders are in control. The new leader, called Nkurunziza, has not said anything up to now, nor has Jean-Bosco. We are not aware of anything. This will of course delay peace negotiations. Q: What is the mediator's (Nelson Mandela) view on the issue of a putsch in the CNDD-FDD? A: We don't know it and the mediator has not yet said anything on that. Q: One day you will have to negotiate with one of the two factions. Will any cease-fire reached therefore become a partially respected truce? A: This is an additional difficulty we shall encounter in the cease-fire negotiations. However, whenever there are two factions, we always prefer to negotiate with all of them. Q: There is confusion as to whether or not the South African contingent due to come to Burundi will be made of policemen or soldiers. What service will they represent and for how long will they stay? A: We were told that they are policemen. Whether they are policemen or soldiers does not matter; as long as they are experienced, respect our laws and do a good job. What is important is their mission. They will be coming to protect institutions and the officials who may wish to be protected. Q: Who will command them, a South African, a Burundian or somebody else? A: A South African will command the unit. However, where there is a joint mission involving South Africans and Burundians, then a Burundian will be the commander. Q: What is the next step in the peace negotiations? A: Now the situation is more complicated. When we were in South Africa we agreed to pursue the negotiations in Libreville with the CNDD-FDD. Now that the leadership of the movement has changed we shall wait and see. We hope the new leaders will continue the negotiations and even accelerate them. Q: How far have we gone in discussions with the National Liberation Forces [Forces nationals pour la liberation - FNL?] A: There are problems with the FNL. Discussions with the FNL have not yet started. The FNL only met the mediation team. There have been no direct talks with them until now.... We hope the international community will assist us and call on the FNL or force them to start negotiations over the cease-fire.