Mixed reactions to Buyoya nomination, rebels vow to fight on

There have been mixed reactions to the nomination of President Pierre Buyoya to head the first 18 months of Burundi’s transition period. In the streets of the Burundi capital, Bujumbura, people appear unconcerned, sources in the city told IRIN on Thursday. They said the decision was expected, hence there was no surprise. “People know the war is still there,” the sources said. “They are waiting to see the outcome of this decision.”

The rebel CNDD-FDD faction, which did not take part in the Arusha peace negotiations, said the fighting would continue. In an interview with the Hirondelle news agency, a CNDD-FDD official Jean-Marie Ngendahayo said the announcement “does not concern us”. “The various deals which took place in Arusha or in related places such as Pretoria, having nothing to with us,” he stressed. “We don’t see any significant change regarding the interests of the Burundian people nor the return of peace and democracy.”
Ngendahayo added that Buyoya was unlikely to abide by the conditions imposed on his transitional presidency.

Anicet Ntawuhiganayo, a spokesman for the other main rebel group Forces nationales de liberation (FNL), also said his movement would carry on fighting. “We have never been associated with the Arusha agreement and we don’t see anything that can alleviate the suffering of the Burundian people,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Burundi government and the main opposition party FRODEBU hailed the announcement by the peace mediator Nelson Mandela, concurring with his comments that this constituted a “breakthrough”. Domitien Ndayizeye of FRODEBU, who will serve as Burundian vice-president for the first 18 months, told the Hirondelle news agency he believed he could work with Buyoya, adding “but he will also have to work with me”. “It is indispensable that we have leaders to run the country, and to implement the peace agreement,” he stated. [See also IRIN analysis of 12 July headlined - “Burundi: No real breakthrough yet”]