- The government of Burundi and the National Liberation Forces (FNL) - the country's last active rebel group - on Monday signed to cease fighting with immediate effect.
The signing was the result of 10 days of talks between the two sides in the capital Bujumbura. It would boost Burundi's efforts to implement the 2006 Comprehensive Ceasefire Agreement peace agreement, which collapsed after the government refused rebel demands for power-sharing.
Last month, Burundians in the Bujumbura and its outskirts were engulfed in yet another bloody fight between government troops and Paliphehutu-FNL, resulting to the killing of more than 100 people and displacement of some 40,000 others.
Through its spokesman, Pasteur Habimana, FNL group vowed to stop the war forever. But it was still unclear how the 2006 accord has addressed disarmament and reintegration of ex-fighters into the army and politics.
A deal between the Tutsi army and Hutu rebels ended Burundi's civil war as well as resulted to the election of President Pierre Nkurunziza in 2005.
Last week, the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed worry over the fragile situation in Burundi. Mr Ban said a fresh outbreak of fighting could derail valuable progress made since a peace agreement was reached in 2000.
“The recent rapid relapse into violent conflict is alarming evidence of the extreme fragility of the situation in Burundi," Mr Ban said in a report to the Security Council.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
front page
| news
| countries
| archive
| currencies
| news alerts login
| about afrol News
| contact
| advertise
| español