President Thabo Mbeki appointed Nqakula as a mediator for Burundi’s peace process at the weekend, following a request by the leadership of the East African region of the African Union (AU) for South Africa to continue with mediation efforts there.
He takes over the role from former deputy president Jacob Zuma.
Foreign affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said Ambassador Kingsley Mamabolo, South African Special Envoy to the Great Lakes, would provide support to Nqakula as he carried out his mandate to “serve the people of Burundi in particular and the East African region in general to create a peaceful, stable and democratic Burundi”.
“South Africa reiterates its commitment to work with the regional leadership, the government and people of Burundi and the leadership of the Palipehutu-National Liberation Forces (NLF) in their efforts to find a sustainable solution to their current political challenges,” said Mamoepa.
The NLF is the only rebel group that has not joined the peace process.
The other rebel group, the Forces for the Defence of Democracy (FDD) agreed to join the power-sharing government to end the civil war between Hutu rebels and the Tutsi army in 2003.
During the consultations that Nqakula would have with leaders in Burundi, it’s envisaged that a regional technical team would be established to provide support to the facilitator.
Despite a peace deal struck in 2003, Burundi has been struggling to have lasting peace. – BuaNews
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