Parties to remain in opposition

A spokesman for the group of parties who supported the candidacy of Colonel Epitace Bayaganakandi for the presidency of the transitional period, Alphonse Rugambarara, reiterated that his group would not enter the transitional government led by President Buyoya and his deputy, Hutu leader, Domitien Ndayizeye. “This would be like signing our own death warrants because this would be tantamount to supporting the treason the two men have been guilty of [in talks on Burundi held] in Arusha and in Pretoria,” Net Press quoted him as saying. According to Net Press, two of the 11 commitments made by Buyoya have particularly outraged Rugambarara. The first is that which says Buyoya is “committed to putting in place faithfully and without reservations all the provisions of the Arusha accord”. The second is one which says that Buyoya must “appeal for regional and international troops and for peacekeeping forces in sufficient numbers...” Rugambarara also said he was outraged by “certain clauses” of the joint communiqué of the regional summit in Arusha held on 23 July, which according to him violates the Arusha accord. He said because of these, the parties of his group would remain in opposition and would constitute constructive opposition.