Rebels stay away from talks

The rebel group PALIPEHUTU-FNL has said it will not take part in the current round of Burundi peace talks, which resumed in the Tanzanian town of Arusha on Wednesday. The movement’s politico-military adviser, Alain Mughbarabona, told IRIN that PALIPEHUTU-FNL representatives were in touch with the mediation team of former South African president Nelson Mandela and “as soon as the situation is sorted out, we shall take part.” He stressed that the group was in favour of peace negotiations. There had been much speculation as to whether Cossan Kabura, the leader of PALIPEHUTU-FNL (Parti pour la liberation du peuple hutu-Forces nationales de liberation) would attend the peace talks for the first time. The movement had indicated it would participate, along with Jean-Bosco Ndayikengurukiye, the leader of the other main rebel group, Conseil national pour la defense de la democratie-Forces pour la defense de la democratie (CNDD-FDD), also previously excluded from the peace process. The latter arrived in Arusha on Tuesday. Mughbarabona said his movement was unhappy about several issues, including the methodology and the way the negotiations were developing. [See also separate IRIN story headlined “Rebel PALIPEHUTU-FNL will not take part in Arusha talks”].