AU Summit Shows Concern over Burundi Situation

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, July 12, 2003

AU Summit Shows Concern over Burundi Situation

Heads of state and government of African Union (AU) countries have expressed great concern over continued hostilities in Burundi which has experienced internal crisis for more than 10 years.

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Heads of state and government of African Union (AU) countries have expressed great concern over continued hostilities in Burundi which has experienced internal crisis for more than 10 years.

The leaders, who are here for the second AU summit, have passeda decision showing their concern on the difficulties in the implementation of the ceasefire agreement reached on Dec. 2, 2002,sources closed to the summit told Xinhua Friday.

The crisis in Burundi has involved several opposing factions, with some engaged in armed attacks on government troops.

Ceasefire agreements were signed to push forward the peace process between the Transition Government of Burundi and three armed groups, including the CNDD-FDD of Jean-Bosco Ndayikengurukiye, the PALIPEHUTU/FNL of Alain Nugabarabona and theCNDD-FDD of Pierre Nkurunziza.

The summit has called for a regional summit to be convened as amatter of urgency to resolve pending issues, particularly those between the Transition Government and the CNDD-FDD of Nkurunziza, noted the official.

The African leaders also asked the AU in cooperation with the mediation, the regional initiative for peace in Burundi and the United Nations to mobilize resources for the deployment and functioning of the African mission, particularly through conveninga pledging conference.

Besides the regional conflicts, the African leaders meeting here would address the issues of further implementation of the NewPartnership for Africa's Development and the eradication of poverty as well as economic development on the continent.

About 41 recommendations made by the AU Executive Council have been put forward to the summit fore adoption.

Heads of state and government of AU members or their representatives opened their three-day second summit here Thursdayon issues concerning the continent.

On July 6-8, the AU Executive Council held a meeting here to make preparations for the summit.

During the three-day meeting, ministers considered the reports of the AU Commission's interim chairperson on refugees, the African Charter on Human Rights, the Pan-African Parliament, and the administrative and financial matters of the AU.

The AU, the largest political entity in Africa and modeled on the European Union, seeks to combine politics, economy, military affairs and culture as one, ultimately aimed at unifying currency and achieving free transit of personnel and goods.

Currently, there are 53 members in the AU, which has four key organs -- the Assembly, the Executive Council, the Permanent Representatives Committee and the Commission.

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