The move follows Deputy President Jacob Zuma’s call to the African Union (AU) organ on conflict resolution and management to urgently establish and deploy an African Mission to the conflict-torn nation as provided for in the recently struck ceasefire agreement between the transitional government and rebels.
Mr Zuma, who is on his way back to the country, told the AU gathering during his visit to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, two days ago, that troops from the three nations would be responsible for ‘the verification and control of the ceasefire.’
The three countries were approached by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and had agreed to take part in an African Mission to the central African country, wracked by civil war since 1993, said Mr Zuma, who also met with the AU commission chairperson Emara Essy. In a breakthrough move last month, the government of President Pierre Buyoya and the main Hutu rebel movement at war with the Tutsi-dominated army signed a ceasefire agreement.
However the Hutu movement, the National Liberation Forces has yet to sign the peace plan.
Mr Zuma, a leading mediator in the conflict, also recommended to the African organ to consider sending an observer mission to Burundi.
Speaking to BuaNews this morning, defence spokesperson Sam Mkhwanazi said the country’s forces were ready and waiting for the Presidency to formalise deployment by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
He added such a deployment would only be activated once President Thabo Mbeki and defence minister Mosioua Lekota had formalised such a move.
South Africa has played a key role in mediating progress towards a settlement in the conflict, which has claimed an estimated 300 000 lives in a decade, mainly those of civilians.
The country, a mediator in the conflict, already has 700 soldiers in Burundi, whose duty is to protect politicians who have returned from exile to take part in a transitional government formed in November 2001 under a peace and power-sharing plan. -BuaNews
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