Mandela proposal on army integration finds favour

The chairman of FRODEBU (the Front for Democracy in Burundi), Jean Minani, has said consensus is increasing among the parties involved in the Arusha peace process on a 50-50 quota for Hutus and Tutsis in an integrated national army. The government’s acceptance of the principle of integration of rebel groups represented progress and, while FRODEBU had proposed a 60-40 split in favour of Hutus - who represent about 85 percent of the Burundi population - there was growing acceptance of the facilitator Nelson Mandela’s suggestion of a 50-50 split, Minani told Radio France Internationale, in an interview broadcast on Thursday.

Integration of the armed forces is one of the key issues at the Arusha talks. Peace talk delegates were also considering a ‘list system’ under which candidates from all ethnic groups could run for office, and a minimum quota for each ethnic group to correct the ‘bias’ towards Hutus that a straightforward single-ballot system would deliver in a majority Hutu country, Minani said. “We must agree on mechanisms for everyone to feel free in his country and for no-one to be excluded from running affairs of state,” he added.

Minani hoped a peace deal could be signed in a month’s time, and that he would return to Burundi in not more than two months after four years in exile.