. | . |
New Burundi peace plan rejected by rebels Bujumbura (AFP) Nov 6, 2008 Uganda and South Africa on Thursday unveiled a new initiative to revive the peace process in Burundi, although it was promptly rejected by rebels. The four-point plan provides for the rebel movement's political branch to be renamed, its leadership integrated into state institutions and its fighters regrouped. All targets would be be achieved by the end of the year, added the document presented by Ugandan Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa and chief mediator Charles Nqakula, who is the South Africa defence minister. The small central African nation has been struggling to emerge from a civil conflict that has left 300,000 dead since 1993. A 2006 ceasefire between the government and the rebel National Liberation Forces (FNL) has been fraught with obstacles over how to share political and military power. The group's political branch is the Palipehutu-FNL (Party for the Liberation of the Hutu People). "This is a disgrace, they are asking the Palipehutu-FNL to change names and the president (Pierre Nkurunziza) is offering us scraps in terms of political jobs," FNL spokesman Pasteur Habimana told AFP. "We will not change our name and we want to negotiate what positions we are reserved," he added. Although the government and the rebels agree on a number of issues, key differences emerged following recent talks including the government's recognition of the rebels' political branch as a political party and allowing its members to enter the government. The government has refused to accept the FNL as a party with the name "Palipehutu," which means party for the liberation of the Hutu people, arguing the constitution forbids political parties with ethnic affiliations. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Africa News - Resources, Health, Food
Eritrea says Somalia peace efforts 'doomed to fail' Nairobi (AFP) Nov 4, 2008 Eritrea said Tuesday that regional and UN efforts to restore stability in Somalia are doomed to fail and urged foreigners to let Somalis resolve their problems. |
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |