BURUNDI: Demobilisation hits snag

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 03:03:14 GMT

Thursday, April 03, 2008

Hundreds of Burundian soldiers scheduled for demobilisation under a donor-recommended programme have refused to complete the process until various financial and selection concerns are answered.

"We cannot go to demobilisation sites before we get an explanation on how our selection was carried out," one of the soldiers, who requested anonymity, told IRIN on 1 April.

The army is in the process of scaling down to 25,000 soldiers by the end of 2008 as part of a series of conditions imposed by development partners for writing off the country's US$1.5 billion foreign debt.

A total of 916 soldiers had been put on a list of those to be demobilised; including 739 privates, 169 non-commissioned officers and 18 officers.

About half of these were due to be taken from a military camp near the capital to a demobilisation centre in the central Gitega province, but refused to board trucks.

Some of the reluctant soldiers said they would end their protest as soon as they received their demobilisation allowance (the equivalent of US$600) and due salary payments, and if they were taken directly home, rather than going to the demobilisation centre.

"We need the entire package now because we have no confidence we will get it later on," one of the soldiers, who also requested anonymity, said. "We can't get our money if it is not given to us now; others who were demobilised earlier have not yet collected their package to date despite organising demonstrations to highlight their case."

They also raised concerns over whether the legal 50-50 ethnic quota in the make-up of the Burundian army had been respected in the process of demobilisation.

"We need to see posted, the list showing ethnic balance, to be persuaded there was transparency," one soldier said. “Those who prepared the lists should come and explain everything to us; until now no one has come to listen to our concerns since the lists were displayed."

Some 200 soldiers who voluntarily went to the Gitega demobilisation site on 31 March expressed their support for those who remained in Bujumbura. They said they would not agree to eight days of training aimed at preparing them for civilian life.

In an attempt to resolve the row, First Vice-President Yves Sahinguvu and Defence Minister Lt-Gen Germain Niyoyankana met senior military officers on 1 April.

He said those with genuine grievances should lodge complaints with the authorities.

Source: IRIN

BURUNDI: Boost for returnees

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 01:29:24 GMT

Friday, December 14, 2007

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) are to run a joint programme to improve the reintegration conditions for returnees, a UNHCR official in Bujumbura said.

The European Union granted 10 million Euros (US$15 million) to the agencies, with UNHCR taking two-thirds to fund the reintegration programme for 2008-2009.

About 125,000 returnees, including 15,000 people expelled from Tanzania, will be assisted.

According to Andreas Kirchhof, UNHCR public relations officer, the agency expects the programme to “encourage voluntary repatriation but also improve the conditions of returnees back home as they will have the possibility of getting a shelter”.

The construction component is the most important part of the project. UNHCR will help 19,600 households build small houses in 2008 and 2009. UNICEF will build 15 schools and 15 pre-school nurseries.

“With 20,000 houses, some 100,000 persons will have a shelter,” Kirchhof said.

About 40,000 Burundians were repatriated in 2007 and the UN agency expects a larger number next year.

In a statement, the UNHCR Representative in Burundi, Bo Schack, said: “The new partnership will improve the conditions for reintegration. It is a signal of hope for all Burundians still living in exile. More persons will receive shelter, will be able to send their children to school, and will have access to healthcare or legal assistance."

The new programme will also enable Burundians expelled from Tanzania to access services so far only available to returnees. Expelled Burundians not recognised as refugees by the Tanzanian government were not normally in the UNHCR mandate.

Kirchhof indicated that under this new programme, the UN agency would help them with identity cards, houses and legal assistance as many returnees are involved in land disputes.

About 120,000 Burundian refugees still await repatriation from Tanzania, with the Tanzanian government threatening to close all the camps by mid-2008. During a tripartite commission of Burundi, Tanzania and UNHCR held in Bujumbura on 4 December, however, Tanzania was requested to extend the deadline for closure of camps until November 2008.

Source: IRIN

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BURUNDI: Demobilisation hits snag

BURUNDI: Boost for returnees