Statement on the Visit by Deputy President Jacob Zuma to AU Headquarters, Addis Ababa, 14 January 2003

1. The Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, HE Jacob Zuma, visited African Union headquarters in Ethiopia on 14 January 2003 at the invitation of the Central Organ of the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution.

2. The Deputy President was invited to brief the Central Organ, which is the core decision-making body within the AU's Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution, on the Burundi peace process.

3. The Deputy President met with the Interim Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union, Mr Amara Essy, and discussed wide-ranging issues including conflict resolution in the continent and in particular the role that should be played by the African Union in the implementation of the cease-fire agreements in Burundi.

4. In his address to the plenary of the 88th Ordinary Session of the Central Organ, the Deputy President raised the following issues:

-- He noted the progress made so far since the signing of cease-fire agreements on the 7th of October 2002, between the CNDD-FDD led by Jean Bosco Ndayikengurukiye and the Paliphehutu-FNL of Alain Mguabarabona, and on the 2nd of December between President Buyoya with Pierre Nkurunziza's CNDD-FND in Tanzania.

-- He thanked the Central Organ for its support to the peace process in Burundi, and requested further support and active involvement of the African Union in the urgent implementation of the cease-fire agreements.

-- He reported on the progress that was being made relating to the implementation of the agreement between President Buyoya and the CNDD-FDD (Ndayikengurukiye) and the Palipehutu Forces for National Liberation (Mugabarabona). The three parties have set up specialised teams to deal with the different aspects of implementation. These include the return of former fighters and leaders to Burundi, the participation of the former armed movements in the transitional institutions of the State and Parliament as well as issues relating to the disarmament, demobilisation and the building of a new security apparatus in the country.

-- The Deputy President briefed the Central Organ on the status of the implementation of the agreement between the CNDD-FDD (Nkurunziza) and the Transitional Government, which came into effect in December 2002.

-- He pointed out that Mr Nkurunziza and President Buyoya needed to meet urgently to discuss the detail of the implementation of the agreement and that there had been a delay in this regard due to the non-availability of Mr Nkurunziza for meetings.

-- The two parties had been invited to South Africa for talks on December 12 and 18 and to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for talks that were scheduled for yesterday, 13 January. All meetings were cancelled, as Mr Nkurunziza could not attend. The Deputy President pointed out that Mr Nkurunziza had, after consultations with President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, in his capacity as Chairperson of the Great Lakes Regional Initiative on Burundi, agreed to attend a meeting in Pretoria on Thursday, 16 January.

-- Deputy President Zuma emphasised the urgency of the establishment and deployment of the African Mission provided for in the cease-fire agreement, which would be responsible for the verification and control of the ceasefire. He said three countries had been identified to contribute to the Mission, Mozambique, South Africa and Ethiopia.

-- Another urgency in the agreement is the establishment of implementation structures such as the Joint Monitoring Commission and Joint Liaison Teams.

-- The Deputy President strongly recommended that the Central Organ authorise the African Union Commission to support the establishment of the African Mission, and also to consider providing an observer mission in Burundi.

-- Deputy President Zuma also welcomed the support of the United Nations Security Council to the Burundi peace process. Following the Deputy President's briefing to the Security Council on the 4th of December 2002, the Council expressed its support for the immediate and full implementation of the cease-fire agreements in Burundi.

5. The Security Council mandated the United Nations Secretary General to study ways of responding positively and with urgency to requests for assistance with regards tot he setting up of the African Mission, in particular with regards to the following:

i. Expertise and advice on the definition of the mandate and deployment of the African Mission;
ii. Facilitation of logistical assistance to the deployment of this mission;
iii. Mobilisation and coordination of donor contributions;
iv. Designation of a person to chair the Joint Cease-fire Commission.

6. The Deputy President urgent the Central Organ to take advantage of the expressed readiness of the United Nations Security Council to backstop the African Mission and the implementation process.

7. Deputy President Zuma also endorsed the statement made by the Security Council, that given the signing of the agreements, its stood ready to consider steps against the States that are found to continue to support armed attacks by the Burundi armed groups and urged African Union member states to take a hard line against transgressors of the cease-fire accords, and those who backed them in line with the UN Security Council statement.

8. The Deputy President welcomed the support of the UN Security Council, especially in light of the fact that the conditions in Burundi are so far not conducive to the full involvement of the UN.

This is partly because of the provision that the combatants of the Nkurunziza group would not be disarmed, and because there is no all-inclusive cease-fire agreement yet as Agathon Rwasa's Palipehutu FNL is still outside the process.

9. Deputy President Zuma noted the socio-economic difficulties in Burundi currently, and commended the donor community which pledged US905,7 million at the last donor round table held in Geneva in November 27 - 28 2002. The Deputy President also briefed representatives of the donor community based in Addis Ababa.

10. Deputy President Zuma also paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia, and the two leaders discussed issues relating to cooperation in the conflict resolution and the role of Ethiopia can play in the Burundi peace process.

11. Deputy President Zuma concluded his visit in the evening of the 14th of January, and is to proceed to Burundi on the 15th of January 2003, for discussions with key role-players in the peace process, including President Buyoya and the 19 political parties, which are signatories of the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement of August 2000.

For more information please contact Lakela Kaunda on 09251-9-252728.

Issued at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
14 January 2003.


Issued by The Presidency, 14 January 2003