Burundi
UN urges Burundi rebels to cease hostilities

afrol News, 8 December - With the conclusion of a ceasefire the "number one" priority in Burundi, members of the UN Security Council yesterday strongly condemned the "unjustifiable" attacks launched by rebels since the country's transitional government came into office on 1 November.

The 15-member UN body again called for the rebel groups to cease hostilities and to initiate negotiations with the transitional government, Ambassador Moctar Ouane of Mali, the Council President for the month of December, said in statement to the press. Council members "also call on countries of the region which have influence on the rebels to use such influence to that end," he said.

The UN Security Council also invited President Omar Bongo of Gabon and Vice-President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, with the support of the countries of the region, to initiate as soon as possible the process of negotiations between the armed groups and government, Ambassador Ouane said. 

The two mediators were entrusted with the job of facilitating negotiations between the two sides at the Regional Initiative Summit of 11 October, according to news published by the UN. 

Expressing their concern at the gravity of the humanitarian situation in Burundi, UN Security Council members reiterated their appeal to all the parties to guarantee access by the humanitarian organizations to the populations in distress throughout the territory.

They "reiterate the need to mobilize the international community on behalf of Burundi and, in this connection, welcome the holding of the roundtable conference on Burundi today in Geneva," Ambassador Ouane said. "They note with satisfaction the commitments made by the donors during this meeting and call on them to honour these commitments as soon as possible."

Human rights groups last month held that massacres of civilians and abduction of children were continuing in Burundi after the new government of transition took power on 1 November. Armed groups, not signatory to the Burundi peace, mainly were held responsible. However, at least 93 civilians are reported to have been massacred by government forces at Maramvya in Rural-Bujumbura province according to Amnesty. 

The two Hutu-dominated rebel groups, the FDD and the Forces of National Liberation (FNL), are not part of the government and they reportedly have intensified their armed attacks since the transitional government took power. 

Both Amnesty and Human Rights Watch (HRW) had asked for international engagement to end the ongoing violence in Burundi. HRW's Des Forges especially demanded "a strong denunciation by Mandela and by the Security Council."

Sources: Based on UN sources and afrol archives

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