Mandela visit on the cards

Mandela also criticised the negotiating sides in Arusha, accusing them of self-interest “with no idea of the value of teamwork”. Referring to his recent talks in South Africa with top Burundian military officials and armed rebel factions, he told delegates that “the minister of defence and the senior military officers appeared far ahead of the thinking of political parties here”. “They stand head and shoulders above all of you here put together because of what they said to me,” he added, according to the Hirondelle news agency. “The same with the rebel groups.” He said both sides supported the Arusha process and “favour an early resolution of the conflict”. Mandela announced he would be visiting Burundi soon for further talks with the army.

Meanwhile, an evaluation mission will be undertaken this week to 11 regroupment camps in Bujumbura Rural which should have been dismantled under phase one of the government’s dismantling programme, humanitarian sources told IRIN on Wednesday. A further nine are to be closed down under phase two, but this has not yet started, according to the sources.