Campaign to explain peace process launched

The government has launched a countrywide campaign to explain the peace process. The campaign is aimed at exchanging information with Burundians in a bid to address their questions and concerns, particularly following the recent visit to Burundi of the peace mediator, Nelson Mandela. Diplomatic sources said President Pierre Buyoya and his two vice-presidents also met high-ranking officials to discuss various issues, notably army integration, political prisoners and a cessation of hostilities. The three leaders stressed that the aim of army integration was to “progressively” correct imbalances in the military.

On political prisoners, they reiterated their differences of opinion with the mediator, saying it was impossible to “empty the prisons and sanction impunity”. They again underlined that a truce was necessary during the period of negotiations before an eventual ceasefire and disarmament. Independent observers point out the government has been at pains to stress there will not be a “fusion” of the army and the rebels, but rather a progressive integration of rebel forces in addition to existing Hutu members of the armed forces.