Global Policy Forum

By Edith M. Lederer

The Burundi peace process has entered an "irreversible stage" and U.N. peacekeepers should take over the 2,650-strong African force, says South Africa's deputy president. Jacob Zuma, who has been trying to promote an end to Burundi's civil war, told the U.N. Security Council Thursday that the past year had seen "tremendous progress" in reducing violence in the African country. Progress, he said, also has been made in bringing peace to at least 95 percent of the country and transferring presidential power from a minority Tutsi to a majority Hutu.

Only one rebel group -- the National Liberation Forces known by its French initials as the FNL -- has refused to sign an agreement with the transitional government. Rebels from the Hutu majority took up arms in October 1993 after Tutsi paratroopers assassinated the country's first democratically elected president, a Hutu. More than 200,000 people, most of them civilians, have died in the civil war.

Zuma, the facilitator of the Burundi peace process, said he has been trying to bring the FNL into the process and remains "optimistic that a solution can be found" despite the failure of two days of talks over the weekend in neighboring Kenya. Zuma said he had come to the Security Council "to request urgent direct assistance for the Burundi peace process." "This assistance will help to consolidate the gains already made, prepare the ground for successful democratic elections in 11 month's time, and firmly root Burundi on the road to lasting peace and stability," he said.

Burundi has completed two-thirds of the transitional period and "is today closer to lasting peace more than ever before in its 10 years of conflict," Zuma said. "It is our well-considered view that the conditions are now conducive for the U.N. to express its support and solidarity through taking over the African Mission in Burundi, re-hat the existing military contingent and deploy a U.N. peacekeeping operation," Zuma said.

While preparations for "more robust" U.N. involvement continue, he said the international community must also provide the African force with money to oversee implementation of the cease-fire agreement, support the disarmament process and contribute to political and economic stability.

France's U.N. Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere called on donors to do everything possible at a pledging conference to be held next month in Brussels. U.S. deputy ambassador James Cunningham said the United States would provide $6.2 million to the African Union's efforts in Burundi. De La Sabliere said France favored a peacekeeping operation in Burundi. Several countries, including Pakistan, Cameroon and Guinea, supported a U.N. peacekeeping force.

Zuma wouldn't speculate on whether the Security Council would transform the African force into a U.N. force. But he said council members have shown "very clear support" for the international community and the United Nations to help the people of Burundi.

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