Two factions sign ceasefire, others given 30 days to comply

The smaller factions of both Hutu groups still fighting the Burundian transitional government signed a formal ceasefire at a regional summit on Monday, while two remaining factions were given 30 days to comply or face the consequences. Jean-Bosco Ndayikengurukiye's Conseil national pour la defense de la democratie-Force pour la defence de la democratie (CNDD-FDD), and Alain Mugarabona's Parti de liberation du peuple hutu-Force nationale de liberation (PALIPEHUTU-FNL) formalised their agreements with the transitional government, making way for what they called a "new era" in the peace process. Meanwhile, in a more lenient stand than had been expected from regional leaders, the two groups yet to sign any agreements - Pierre Nkurunziza's CNDD-FDD and Agathon Rwasa's FNL - were instructed to continue negotiations, "with a view to concluding the ceasefire agreement within 30 days", according to a statement from the summit. Summit delegates agreed to "meet after 30 days to review the situation and if no ceasefire agreement has been reached between the parties", they would "take appropriate measures against the recalcitrant parties". The summit, which had been billed as the last in the Great Lakes Regional Initiative on Burundi, brought together the presidents of Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa as well as chief mediator and former South African President Nelson Mandela and representatives from the United Nations and the African Union. In a move that some observers interpret as a "carrot" to persuade the remaining groups to sign a ceasefire, the summit noted the need to integrate armed groups into the state’s formal institutions, an issue that has been seen as a stumbling block in negotiations. The leaders decided that "Ndayikengurukiye's CNDD-FDD, Mugarabona's FNL and any other armed groups that sign the ceasefire agreement should be integrated into the transitional institutions and organs of the state, including the army and other security forces" and called on all signatories of the Arusha peace agreement to facilitate this integration. Nonetheless, Nkurunziza's CNDD-FDD criticised the facilitation for bringing "pseudo-belligerents" into the peace process and called for a clear declaration of the objectives of the negotiations, a definition of the belligerents, and a commitment from both sides to implement any agreement signed. Progress had been made; Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and chairman of the Regional Initiative said closing the summit. However he added, "We shall continue to put pressure on those that so not want peace in Burundi."