CNDD-FDD spokesman Jerome Ndiho on Sunday clarified that his movement could only agree to a ceasefire after direct talks with the government. “The situation has reached deadlock,” he told the Hirondelle news agency. “We do not reject the principle of reaching a ceasefire deal, but we cannot jump all the other stages.” He added that the ball was now in Buyoya’s court. According to private Burundi Umwizero radio, Mandela however rejected the rebels’ offer to negotiate directly with the government. He said he wanted them to join the overall negotiating process, rather than engage in bilateral talks with the government, the radio reported.
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