U N I T E D   N A T I O N S
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CENTRAL AND EASTERN AFRICA
IRIN-CEA Weekly Round-up 81
7 - 13 July 2001


CONTENTS:

BURUNDI: Buyoya to be first transitional leader - Mandela
BURUNDI: Mixed reactions to Buyoya nomination, rebels vow to fight on
BURUNDI: At least nine killed in attacks
BURUNDI: Four African nations to send troops
RWANDA: Three genocide suspects arrested in Europe
RWANDA: Eleven sentenced to death for genocide
RWANDA: Pledge to improve relations with Uganda
DRC: Kagame discusses Congo conflict with Kabila, Annan
DRC: RCD leaders set up base in Kisangani
DRC: Anti-polio campaign workers arrested, released
DRC: Preparatory meeting for inter-Congolese dialogue postponed
DRC: "Witch-hunt" death toll rises to 843
GREAT LAKES: Rights group takes issue with UN small arms conference

BURUNDI: Buyoya to be first transitional leader - Mandela 

Burundi peace mediator Nelson Mandela, has announced that Burundian
President Pierre Buyoya will lead during the first 18 months of the
country's transition. Mandela, who made the announcement in Pretoria,
South Africa, on Tuesday, also said that the candidate of the G-7 Hutu
parties, Domitien Ndayizeye, would serve as vice-president. The next 18
months of the three-year transition would be led by a Hutu president and a
Tutsi vice-president.

"This is a fixed decision", Mandela said, according to the South African
news agency SAPA. "There is nothing tentative about this resolution...
They [negotiating sides] have firmly decided that President Buyoya should
lead the first 18 months and that the vice-president will be Domitien
Ndayizeye." He added there was no set timeframe for the introduction of
the transitional government, but the parties involved would begin
thrashing out the details at a regional summit in Arusha, Tanzania on 23
July. Buyoya had already agreed to a list of conditions attached to his
appointment, Mandela said. [For further details and list of conditions see
separate IRIN item of 11 July headlined "BURUNDI: Decision on transitional
leadership "fixed"].

BURUNDI: Mixed reactions to Buyoya nomination, rebels vow to fight on

There have been mixed reactions to the nomination of Buyoya to head the
first 18 months of the transition period. In the streets of the Burundi
capital, Bujumbura, people appeared unconcerned, sources in the city told
IRIN on Thursday. They said the decision had been expected, hence there
was no surprise. "People know the war is still there," the sources said.
"They are waiting to see the outcome of this decision."

The rebel CNDD-FDD faction, which did not take part in the Arusha peace
negotiations, said the fighting would continue. In an interview with the
Hirondelle news agency, a CNDD-FDD official, Jean-Marie Ngendahayo, said
the announcement "does not concern us". "The various deals which took
place in Arusha or in related places such as Pretoria, have nothing to
with us," he stressed. "We don't see any significant change regarding the
interests of the Burundian people nor the return of peace and democracy."
Anicet Ntawuhiganayo, a spokesman for the other main rebel group Forces
nationales de liberation (FNL), also said his movement would carry on
fighting. "We have never been associated with the Arusha agreement, and we
don't see anything that can alleviate the suffering of the Burundian
people," he said.

Meanwhile, the Burundi government and the main opposition party FRODEBU
hailed the announcement by Nelson Mandela, concurring with his comments
that this constituted a "breakthrough". Domitien Ndayizeye of FRODEBU, who
will serve as vice-president for the first 18 months, told the Hirondelle
news agency he believed he could work with Buyoya, adding "but he will
also have to work with me". "It is indispensable that we have leaders to
run the country, and to implement the peace agreement," he stated. [See
also IRIN analysis of 12 July headlined - "Burundi: No real breakthrough
yet"]

BURUNDI: At least nine killed in attacks

At least nine people, including seven rebels, died in various places in
southwestern Burundi during rebel attacks at the end of last week, the
Agence burundaise de presse (ABP) reported. Two civilians were killed and
two others wounded on the night 6 July in Cabara, Rumonge commune,
southwestern Burundi. During the attack, the assailants also killed 24
cows and stole about 50 others. ABP said that during the attack, six
rebels were killed during exchanges with the "Guardiens de la paix" -
former rebels now working with the army. Another rebel was killed in an
attack in Kizuka zone, it added.

BURUNDI: Four African nations to send troops

Four African nations have agreed to send peacekeeping troops to Burundi,
President Pierre Buyoya announced on Wednesday. According to Reuters news
agency, he told a press conference in Lusaka, Zambia, that the defence
ministers of South Africa, Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana and Burundi met in
Pretoria last week to prepare for the deployment of troops once a
ceasefire was agreed. The mediator, Nelson Mandela, acknowledged that
implementation of the transition period would not coincide with a
ceasefire agreement, but said negotiations were continuing with the FNL
and FDD rebel groups.

Buyoya also told the news conference he was aware a "big challenge" lay
ahead. A regional summit, due to be held in Arusha, Tanzania on 23 July,
will decide on the time-frame for the transition. Buyoya assured reporters
he would step down after his 18-month tenure. "It is contained in the
document," he said. "I gave my word of honour and commitment, and I will
abide by that."

RWANDA: Three genocide suspects arrested in Europe

A former finance minister, a Catholic military chaplain and a musician
were on Thursday arrested in Europe on warrants from the International
Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), the Hirondelle news agency reported
on Friday, quoting official sources.

Former minister Emmanuel Ndindagahizi was arrested in Belgium, according
to ICTR spokesman Kingsley Moghalu. Ndindagahizi was finance minister in
the Rwandan interim government in place during the 1994 genocide. Charges
against him included genocide, direct and public incitement to commit
genocide, extermination and murder as crimes against humanity, the agency
said.

Musician Simon Bikindi was arrested in the Netherlands. Bikindi was a
well-known composer and singer, whose songs were used during the war and
genocide, notably on "hate radio" Radio-Télévision Libre des Mille
Collines (RTLM). He is charged with conspiracy to commit genocide,
genocide or alternatively complicity in genocide, direct and public
incitement to commit genocide, murder and persecution as crimes against
humanity.

Emmanuel Rukundo was arrested in Switzerland. At the time of the genocide
in Rwanda, he was a military chaplain in Ruhengeri Prefecture,
northwestern Rwanda, and was subsequently transferred to the capital,
Kigali. He is charged with genocide or, alternatively, complicity in
genocide, murder and extermination as crimes against humanity.

Hirondelle quoted ICTR spokesman Moghalu as saying that these arrests were
"very important developments" in the work of the Tribunal and "another
sign of the effective cooperation that we are receiving from states". He
said he hoped the three would be transferred to the UN prison in Arusha as
soon as possible.

RWANDA: Eleven sentenced to death for genocide

Eleven people were sentenced to death for involvement in Rwanda's 1994
genocide by a court in Gikongoro, southwestern Rwanda, the Hirondelle news
agency reported. The group was part of a joint trial of 28 people from
Kinyamakara commune, who were charged with genocide and crimes against
humanity. Four others were acquitted, seven were sentenced to life
imprisonment and six were given prison sentences of between six and 15
years. Of the six, four had pleaded guilty.

Meanwhile, the court also ordered that the accused, Masabo Nyangezi, to be
immediately released. He was sentenced to six years in jail, but had
already spent seven years in "preventive detention". Masabo was the
director-general at the Rwandan environment and tourism ministry in 1994
and is well known to the Rwandan public as a singer-songwriter, Hirondelle
added. He fled Kigali during the genocide and took refuge in his home
commune of Kinyamakara, where he stayed until his arrest in August 1994.  
The court found him guilty of participating in an attack against a local
family.

RWANDA: Pledge to improve relations with Uganda

President Paul Kagame held talks with his Ugandan counterpart, Yoweri
Museveni, on 6 July, during which they agreed to strengthen and improve
bilateral relations. A joint communique described the meeting - held in
the Rwandan border town of Gatunda - as warm and friendly. The two leaders
agreed to establish a "close working relationship" on international issues
to "harmonise their positions", particularly for regional peace and
stability. Kagame accepted an invitation to pay a return visit to Uganda,
the communique said.

Addressing a news conference after the talks, Kagame said there was "hope
for improvement" in relations, which suffered greatly after the two
countries' armies clashed repeatedly in the Congolese city of Kisangani
last year. Earlier this year, Uganda put Rwanda on its list of "hostile
nations", but Museveni told the news conference the issue had been
"resolved". "Since I have come here and met President Kagame and had
discussions which are summarised in the communiqué... that matter is
finished," he added, according to a report from Rwanda's presidential
press office. The two leaders met again on Tuesday on the fringes of the
OAU summit in Lusaka, Zambia, where they had continued their earlier
discussions, according to a statement from the Rwandan president's office.

DRC: Kagame discusses Congo conflict with Kabila, Annan

Rwandan President Paul Kagame met his Congolese counterpart, Joseph
Kabila, and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Monday, according to a
statement from Rwanda's presidential press office. The "consultative
tripartite meeting" discussed the conflict in the DRC. During the meeting,
Kagame reiterated his country's commitment to full implementation of the
Lusaka peace accord, the statement said. "The president expressed his
disappointment to President Kabila and Secretary-General Annan about the
DRC's continued violation of the Lusaka Agreement by supporting ex-FAR
[former Rwandan army] and Interahamwe attacks on Rwanda." The meeting,
which took place on the fringes of the OAU summit in Lusaka, Zambia, was
the third between Kagame and Kabila since the latter came to power
following the assassination of his father, Laurent-Desire Kabila, the
Associated Press noted.

Kagame told AP that the meeting, which focused on incursions into Rwanda
by rebels alleged to be supported by the DRC, "went very well". He said he
was optimistic, because "when people are able to engage in dialogue, the
talking itself brings hope".

DRC: RCD leaders set up base in Kisangani

The rebel Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD-Goma) has said
its leaders will establish a permanent presence in the northeastern city
of Kisangani. In a statement received by IRIN on Tuesday, the movement
said the decision was taken by its executive committee, which met at the
end of last week. "The movement's leadership wants to be more visible in
the city of Kisangani as a sign of solidarity and brotherhood with the
people of Province Orientale," the statement said. "To this effect, a team
of leaders will be permanently based in the country's third city."

DRC: Anti-polio campaign workers arrested, released

Five health care workers involved in a massive anti-polio vaccination
campaign who were reported to have been arrested and beaten by rebel
soldiers on Monday in the Bikombi area of the Ikela health zone in
Equateur Province have been released, a UN World Health Organisation (WHO)
representative confirmed to IRIN on Thursday. "Our team on the ground is
trying to contact each of them for further clarifications," the WHO source
said. Vaccine teams were also reported to have been blocked on 8 July at
the DRC's border with Angola by Angolan rebels "for unknown reasons", WHO
sources told IRIN on Thursday. Administrative and health officials have
been requested by the DRC Ministry of Health to take appropriate actions
in an effort to prevent such problems from occurring during future
vaccination rounds. 

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 6 July urged safe passage for health
workers in the polio immunisation campaign, which was launched in Kinshasa
the previous day. "I urge all leaders in these countries and all warring
parties to respect the National Immunisation Days as 'days of
tranquillity', and to ensure the safe passage of health workers and
volunteers in their efforts to reach all children with polio vaccine over
the coming week, and again in August and September of this year," Annan
said in a statement.  [See also IRIN separate report of 12 July headlined
- "DRC: Anti-polio workers attacked"]

DRC: Preparatory meeting for inter-Congolese dialogue postponed

Preparatory discussions for the inter-Congolese dialogue among Congo's
civic groups, political parties, government representatives and rebels
have been postponed from 16 July until 20 August, Ketumile Masire, the
facilitator of the talks, confirmed during the Lusaka OAU summit on
Wednesday. "Rather than rush it through, we feel that the designation of
representatives, and the consultation process involved, must be allowed to
run its due course," the Associated Press (AP) quoted Masire as saying. A
statement from the office of the facilitator noted that seven of the 11
provinces of the DRC had already been visited by a team from Masire's
office that is overseeing the elections of civil society representatives. 
However, the towns of Kikwit and Bandundu in Bandundu Province, Mbandaka
and Gemena in Equateur Province, Matadi in Bas Congo Province and the
capital city of Kinshasa remain to be visited. 

Despite difficulties in persuading certain forces to withdraw as called
for in the accords, Masire said he was optimistic for the future of the
DRC. "The democratic spirit among the ordinary Congolese is very much
alive," he said on Wednesday. "This gives me the impression that both the
Congolese and myself are on the right path for peace."

DRC: "Witch-hunt" death toll rises to 843

The death toll from killings of suspected sorcerers in the northeastern
Ituri Province has doubled from previous estimates to some 843 people as
reports of more killings arrive from remote areas, a Ugandan army officer
told Reuters on Wednesday. "The death toll has reached 843," military
intelligence Captain Alfred Opio was quoted as saying. "I was in Aru
[Ituri Province] on Monday, and those are the figures I got from the
governor."  Major Bule Bangulu Mohamed, governor of Ituri Province, was
currently heading a commission of inquiry into the massacres,
rebel-controlled Radio Candip reported on Wednesday. 

According to Reuters, Opio reported a death toll of 394 on 4 July from
killings carried out in June. Opio said nearly 150 suspected killers had
been arrested in a joint operation by local police and the Uganda People's
Defence Force (UPDF), which maintains a strong presence in this part of
the DRC. "They are being held in a prison in Aru," Reuters quoted Opio as
saying. "They say they were instructed by their chiefs to do the killing."
In the village of Zaki, northwest of Aru, where 175 people were reported
killed, dozens of bodies had been tossed into pit latrines, according to
Opio, Reuters reported. 

GREAT LAKES: Rights group takes issue with UN small arms conference

The human rights organisation, Amnesty International (AI), has questioned
some of the aspects of an international conference on illicit trade in
small arms, convened by the UN, which opened in New York on Tuesday. In a
lengthy report, AI welcomed the initiative, but said the UN draft
programme of action to be presented to the conference "does not even
mention some of the key contexts in which small arms are used to cause
suffering on a massive scale". "Small arms are now the principal weapons
used in most armed conflicts characterised by mass human rights abuses by
government and opposition forces," the organisation noted, saying that
such weapons were easily available because of the poor regulation of
supply. It expressed concern that the draft action programme "excludes one
of the most important aspects of illegality - namely the violation of
international human rights law and international humanitarian law using
small arms".

The report noted that thousands of civilians had been killed by various
sides in conflicts in the Great Lakes region. In countries such as Burundi
and the DRC, there had been extrajudicial killings, torture and tens of
thousands of civilians were internally displaced as a result of the
conflicts. In Rwanda, the report said, arbitrary arrests and
"disappearances" continued. AI called for transparency, accountability,
the closing of loopholes, and international assistance in order to stem
the traffic in illegal small arms and light weapons. [Full report
available at http://www.amnesty.org/]
 
Nairobi, 13 July 2001


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