Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania urged international donors on Saturday to honour their undertakings so that peace efforts in Burundi could be speeded up.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, after a meeting with Burundian President Domitien Ndayizeye, Museveni and Mkapa, who are leading a regional effort to restore peace to Burundi, said at least 1,5 billion US dollar was required for the entire peace process.
The money is required urgently to implement ceasefire arrangements between Burundis transitional government and several former Hutu rebel groups, as well as for the reformation and integration of the largely Tutsi-dominated armed forces.
– We are merely reminding them that they did make these undertakings and financial contributions are key to a successful process of integration, Mkapa said.
The presidents, convened to review progress of restoring peace to Burundi, expressed satisfaction that violence had declined in 16 out of 17 regions of the country, where the African Union has had a mission since May 2003.
But the leaders warned that patience was wearing thin with the PALIPEHUTU-Forces nationales de liberation of Agathon Rwasa; the sole active rebel force widely considered as the last stumbling block to ending more than a decade of war that have left 300.000 people dead, according to UN estimates.
A regional summit in November 2003 gave Rwasas FNL three months to enter into ceasefire negotiations with the government or face the consequences.
Reflecting a growing frustration with Rwasas group, the leaders at Saturdays meeting recommended a regional summit be held to take decisive action against the rebels.
– Since the efforts have not gone through, we are now going for a regional summit and I will be recommending certain actions, Museveni said.
Kilde: FN-bureauet IRINnews
