Main rebel group turns into political party

Around 500 members of the former rebel movement the Conseil national de défense de la démocratie-Forces de défense de la démocratie (CNDD-FDD), took a formal decision of becoming a political party at a congress held from 7 to 8 August in the central province of Gitega. In accordance with a ceasefire agreement, Burundi’s Ministry of Home Affairs will automatically approve the new political party once combatants begin cantonment. The ceasefire agreement was reached in November 2003 between the government and the CNDD-FDD, in Dar es Salam, Tanzania. Several foreign delegates also took part, including members of the ruling parties from Rwanda, Tanzania and South Africa. The CNDD-FDD also held elections for positions within the party. The leader of the former rebel movement, Pierre Nkurunziza, was re-elected president. Hussein Radjabu was also re-elected secretary-general and Pasteur Mpawenayo was elected executive secretary. The event was the third congress held by the CNDD-FDD but the first since November 2003 when it joined the peace process. Some 300,000 people have died in Burundi since rebels took up arms in 1993.