BUJUMBURA (AFP) — Burundi and the rebel National Liberation Forces (FNL) have agreed to integrate around 3,500 rebel fighters into the national army and police, a presidential military advisor said Wednesday.
"The government and the FNL have reached an agreement quickly to integrate a number of FNL fighters into the units of the army and police," General Evariste Ndayishimiye told AFP.
Ndayishimiye said the remaining rebel fighters will be demobilised.
The rebels claim they have a 21,000 strong force but the government and international community put the number much lower.
The deal was reached during recent negotiations in South Africa.
A top rebel leader refused to confirm the details of the accord.
"I was at the meeting in South Africa, but it is not for me to say what was agreed," FNL Secretary General Jonas Nshimirimana told AFP.
A diplomatic source who requested anonymity said the two sides hoped to complete the integration by the end of April. The two sides will create a mixed brigade to guarantee the safety of rebel leaders in the capital, he added.
The same source said South Africa is anxious to withdraw its forces currently deployed in Burundi as part of an African Union peacekeeping mission.
Bujumbura and the FNL rebels agreed on December 4 to resolve the final obstacles delaying the implementation of a peace deal reached in September 2006.
So far, some 5,500 FNL fighters have assembled at an encampment site in Rubira, 20 kilometres (12 miles) north of Bujumbura and 121 child soldiers have been separated from other combatants.
No comments:
Post a Comment