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The United States on Friday welcomed the meeting between Burundi President Pierre Buyoya and Hutu rebel leader Jean-Bosco Ndayikengurukiye on 9 January as a move towards the cessation of fighting in the Great Lake’s region.
“We hope that this meeting will encourage further dialogue between the Burundian government and the Front pour le defence de la democratie (FDD) to help bring an end to the violence in Burundi,” according to a State Department press release on Friday.
The Buyoya - Ndayikengurukiye meeting should add important impetus to the efforts being made by peace facilitator Nelson Mandela to launch ceasefire negotiations, the US added.
State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said DRC President Laurent-Desire Kabila’s role in facilitating the Burundi leaders’ meeting gave hope to attempts to end fighting in the DRC and the entire region. “Clearly, continued progress in the Burundi peace process will contribute to ongoing efforts to bring peace to the DRC and to stabilise the Great Lakes region,” Reeker added.
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