AU Security Commissioner in Bujumbura

The Peace and Security Commissioner of the African Union (AU), Saïd Djinit, arrived in Bujumbura Monday afternoon on a three-day working visit, aimed at gathering information on the current political and security situation in the country, a diplomatic source said here.

The visit followed the break in the negotiations between the Burundian authorities and the Party for the Liberation of the Hutu People/National Liberation Front (PALIPEHUTU-FNL).

The African diplomat told journalists shortly on arrival that he expected to meet various political and security officials before he could assess how the AU could help to end the deadlock created by the break in the negotiations, which has triggered fears of renewed hostilities in the country.

The PALIPEHUTU-FNL, the remaining active rebel movement in the country, unilaterally broke the discussions with the Burundian government to protest against the delay in effectively implementing the cease-fire accord signed between the two parties in September 2006.

The AU has a military battalion ready to help in the process to demobilise, disarm and reintegrate the combatants as soon as the rebel movement accepts to lay down weapons.

Djinit’s visit coincides with the announcement by the Burundian army that it was no longer ready to immediately send the two battalions of 2,000 troops initially promised for the AU to help in the peacekeeping mission in Somalia.

The spokesperson of the National Defence Forces (FDN), Lt.-Col. Adolphe Manirakiza, Monday told journalists the delay in sending the troops, earlier expected to leave early August, was due to logistical reasons.

Only France has granted 500,000 euros to support the transportation of the Burundian contingent.

The promise by the US to provide arms and ammunition is yet to be implemented in order to allow the Burundian army to deploy on the Somalian field, further said Manirakiza.

Bujumbura - 06/08/2007

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