“Difficulties” ahead without ceasefire

Burundi’s Peace Process Minister Ambroise Niyonsaba on Tuesday told diplomats in Bujumbura that if the recently signed accord was not followed by a cessation of hostilities, the country would face “serious difficulties”. “If the peace accord is not followed by the signing of a ceasefire agreement in the next few weeks, we will experience difficulties,” Burundi Umwizero radio quoted Niyonsaba as saying. “We might face difficulties,” he added.

However, he said he remained optimistic: “We think, for instance, that we can already now start discussing the time schedule for the implementation of the accord, a time schedule which, for instance, would begin with the setting up of the follow-up commission which is a very important body following the signing of the accord.”