Government asks DRC to support it in its quest for peace

Burundi’s President Pierre Buyoya has asked his DRC counterpart, Joseph Kabila, that his country accompany Burundi in its quest for peace and stability, Burundi radio announced on Monday. Buyoya said in a message which was delivered to Kabila by Burundi’s foreign minister, Severin Ntahomvukiye, that he was committed to “using all means available to him to ensure the stability in the DRC”. The message said that with the resumption of communication between the parties and suspicion dissipated, Burundi suggested three options for action to assist it find peace once again. It suggested that the rebel FDD “must” rejoin the Arusha peace process whose agreement offers full security and material guarantees for all exiles anxious about returning home. It also asked that the Lusaka accord be implemented by the FDD and that the DRC which is part of the regional initiative on Burundi, should not let down the countries which are part of the initiative. “It is hoped that the armed groups will not hinder the progress of the peace process in Burundi. Ntahomvukiye said that President Kabila gave them information regarding the ex-FAR (former Rwandan armed forces) saying that he had regrouped 4,500 of them and has asked Britain for assistance in the disarmament and demobilisation of these ex-FAR. He said that if all the primary peaceful solutions aimed at bringing the FDD to the fold of the Arusha process fail, “probably there will be no option but to apply what he has done to the ex-FAR to the FDD”. “Therefore, he will ensure that he has the means to implement the Arusha accord so as to demobilise and disarm them,” Ntahomvukiye explained. Kabila also promised that he would influence, “by all means”, the Rassemblement congolais pour la democracy (RCD) leadership to convince them to rejoin the Arusha process, as it is, of course, the best solution. “Even for us, what is of interest is not to destroy the FDD, to neutralise it or to put it on stand by. What is of interest to us is that they rejoin the Arusha process as soon as possible, that they participate in national reconstruction so as to turn over a new leaf for good,” Ntahomvukiye said. “We are for turning over a new leaf permanently,” he added.