Reactions to transition agreement

Domitien Ndayizeye, who will become Burundi’s new vice-president, on Monday voiced satisfaction with the peace process. In an interview with Burundi radio, he denied suggestions that the transitional government would fail considering there was no ceasefire agreement yet. “You
are aware of the fact that the forthcoming institutions will be shared by all the signatories,” he said. “That means we will be strong enough to hold discussions with the rebels who did not sign the agreement.” He stressed the new government was determined to hold talks with the rebel groups. “We hope they will understand we will not allow the country to go backwards,” he added.

In other reactions to the Arusha summit, FRODEBU’s exiled leader Jean Minani said his movement could not oppose an international decision. “We are going to continue negotiating until we bring peace back,” he told the Hirondelle news agency. But the rebel CNDD faction, led by Leonard Nyangoma, said the sides in Arusha had
“just re-confirmed the partnership between [the ruling party] UPRONA, FRODEBU and the army”. Nyangoma described the move as a “fatal blow” to the peace agreement.

The opposition Tutsi parties also condemned the endorsement of Buyoya as president. Their spokesman, Alphonse Rugambarara of the INKINZO party, described Buyoya as a “very dangerous president”, and said they would continue to work within the framework of the Implementation Monitoring Committee (IMC) for full implementation of the peace accord, particularly political freedom.

“For 18 months, not being in the government is not very important,” Rugambarara told Hirondelle. “Eighteen months goes very fast. But at least we will be in an institution [the IMC] which will allow us to continue demanding our rights and freedoms.”

A UN spokesman in New York said the Burundi peace process seemed to have
“advanced another step” with the endorsement of Buyoya as president and Ndayizeye as his deputy.