Rebel groups call for inclusion in ceasefire talks

Four Burundian rebel movements have said they must be included in all ceasefire negotiations with the government. The statement was issued on Sunday by the chairmen of the four groups - Leonard Nyangoma of the Conseil national pour la defense de la democratie (CNDD), Joseph Karumba of the Front pour la liberation nationale (FROLINA), Etiennne Karatasi of the Parti pour la liberation du peuple hutu (PALIPEHUTU), and Cossan Kabura of the Forces nationales pour la liberation (FNL). In the statement, they declared that a "memorandum of understanding" reached between the Burundi transitional government and another rebel faction, the Conseil national pour la defense de la democratie-Forces pour la defense de la democratie (CNDD-FDD) led by Jean Bosco Ndayikengurukiye, was not all-inclusive. "The agreement has been concluded by only two out of several belligerents," the statement said, adding that the wording of the accord was "vague", thus making it difficult to implement. According to the statement, by inviting only some of the stakeholders to the talks, the facilitators had sown "confusion" and "pushed the armed political parties and movements into such a situation that they have no other choice but to reject the humiliating conditions". "We consider the methodology of inviting only one armed movement to the negotiations, while excluding others, as a dividing factor," the statement added. "This will have far-reaching counter-productive effects, thus endangering security in Burundi instead of achieving it." In a recent report, Burundi analyst Jan Van Eck said there was unlikely to be "significant progress" in Burundi's ceasefire talks unless they include all belligerents. The talks are being facilitated by South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma in the Tanzanian commercial capital, Dar es Salaam. The next round is due to take place on 16 September.