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Allegations against Tanzania refuted by president Buyoya
By Peter Tindwa
for AP (Associated Press), in Dar-es-Salaam
The Burundian President, Major Pierre Buyoya, yesterday refuted allegations that he had accused
Tanzania of offering firearms and military training to armed rebels of Hutu origin, currently staying in
refugee camps in Kigoma and Kagera regions.
Addressing a press
conference at the Dar es Salaam International Airport shortly before his departure for
Bujumbura yesterday morning, Major Buyoya said the allegations were not his words, but were "concocted by
the press". "People from the press must refrain from putting their words into my mouth. I have never lodged any such
accusations," he said. The Burundian leader said his government and Tanzanian authorities have been holding discussions regarding
security between the two neighbouring countries. "We have been discussing frankly, with an open heart
issues pertaining to border security, including the presence of armed rebels among refugees.
The discussions have been involving relevant authorities like President Mkapa and me, together with defense ministers of both countries," President Buyoya said. He said at the moment, Burundi was in need of more assistance than ever before, so as to secure a lasting peace. Major Buyoya said that during his two-day working visit, he held talks with President Mkapa on important issues like repatriation of over 350,000 Burundian refugees living in Tanzania, a few misunderstandings and bilateral relations as well as progress of the peace process.
"We are striving to ensure that all necessary
institutions are put in place, ready for installation of a transitional government of 18 months
on November 1, this year," the Burundian leader said. Major Buyoya said that during his two-day stay, he
also met Dr. Jean Minani of FRODEBU and Joseph Karumba of FROLINA and discussed the preparations of the
transitional government. On his part, President Mkapa called on Burundian rebels to lay-down their weapons and join the peace
talks which had reached an advanced stage. "There is no justification for continuing to fight
while a machinery for implementation of the Peace and Reconciliation pact has been put in place. . .I appeal
to rebels to lay-down their arms and join the peace
process. Fighting will not benefit anyone," President Mkapa stated.
President Buyoya arrived in Dar es Salaam last Tuesday for a two-day visit.
Earlier, diplomatic sources, however, had told The Guardian on Tuesday that the Burundian leader was likely to discuss with President Mkapa allegations made last May that Tanzania was offering firearms and military training to armed rebels from Burundi. It was reported that Major Buyoya had told the UN Security Council delegation in Bujumbura that Tanzania was supporting armed rebels of Hutu origin who had been fighting against his government for the past eight years.
Reacting to the allegations, President Mkapa had told
the UN delegation, led by the French Permanent Ambassador to the UN, Jean-David Levitte in Dar es
Salaam that it would be wise if the UN repatriated Burundian refugees, currently sheltered in refugee
camps in Tanzania.
This would clear any doubt that his country was arming
Burundian rebels. Buyoya's visit comes 40 days before the Implementation Monitoring Committee shifts its temporary headquarters
from Arusha to Bujumbura. Talks on ceasefire and cessation of hostilities between the Burundian government and two armed rebel
groups have stalled, pending some clarifications on some issues by the international
facilitator in the conflict, retired South African president Nelson
Mandela. The two main rebel groups which have been launching
military offensive against Burundi government are CNDD-FDD of Col. Jean-Bosco Ndayikengurukiye, and
PALIPEHUTU-FLN of Kabura Kosani. The two groups have rejected the signed peace accord,
maintaining that they had been excluded right from the beginning of peace process.
Other government leaders who were at the airport to witness the departure of Major Buyoya yesterday were the Vice-President, Dr Ali Mohammed Shein, Minister for Defense and National Service, Professor Philemon Sarungi, Minister of State in the President's Office (Good Governance), Wilson Masilingi and Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Yusuf Makamba.
