Actualities

End of the first national forum for dialogue under the criticism April 19, ‘08

( Romandie News: Source )

The first national forum for dialogue in Burundi ended on Saturday after three days of talks in the capital Bujumbura , under criticism from the opposition and civil society, who believe it does not take into account the real problems of substance" of this country.

" We were on the edge of ridiculous discussing everything and nothing while the war between the army and the ( rebel ) FNL ( National Liberation Forces ) took over because there is a lack of dialogue between both sides " said Mathias Basabose an independent deputy member

The Burundian rebels launched a new attack near the capital city Bujumbura in the night of Friday to Saturday, while the stock of fighting since the offensive Thursday, FNL has risento 26 dead of it s members, according to millitary sources, the rebellion, however, accuses the government of sabotaging the cease-fire.

On the other hand, the work of the National Assembly have been paralysed since the February session, the presidential party that no longer has a majority, is refusing to share responsibility with the opposition.

The "framework for dialogue in Burundi" is funded to the tune of 3 millions of US Dollars by the fund to consolidate peace of the United Nations.

This forum has been a blur, not objective, (...),it is a dialogue that will succeed in anything because it does not examine the real problems as a question of the FNL, the paralysis of the assembly, said Leonce Ngendakumana, chairman of the front for Democracy in Burundi ( Frodebu ) the first opposition party in the country.

"The UN is today decided to send a strong signal to both sides, to return to reason (....), a Security Council delegation was expected to arrive in the capital Bujumbura to talk peace-building as soon as tomorrow, She adjourned Sine die its journey", announced in an official UN AFP, under cover of anonymity.

The national forum for dialogue brought together some 300 delegates representing the government, parliament, political parties and major civil society groups in order to " seal a commitment to use dialogue to resolve conflicts."

The Burundi struggles to get out of a civil war that began in 1993 and which has left more then 300.000 peoples lost their lives.

An agreement on a ceasefire was signed in September 2006 between the FNL and the government but its implementation stalled, The rebels demanding an agreement on power-sharing political and military which categorically rejects power.

Burundi Transparence