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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

BURUNDI: No more coups, says Buyoya

BUJUMBURA, 24 April 2003 (IRIN) - President Pierre Buyoya, who is due to leaves office on 1 May, said on Wednesday he would never try to regain power by force in the future.

"I will continue to remain active in politics, and I will be a candidate once elections are organised in five to six years," he told reporters.

For now, he said, he would serve as a senator. Buyoya, a Tutsi, is expected to hand over power to his vice-president, Domitien Ndayizeye, a Hutu, in line with the Arusha accords of 2002 and the Burundian constitution.

Buyoya seized power in two coups: in 1987 when he ousted President Jean-Baptiste Bagaza, recently released from house arrest; and in 1996 when he ousted Slyvestre Ntibantunganya, a Hutu.

Buyoya said that Ndayizeye and his vice-president designate, Alphonse Kadege, would have tough tasks ahead of them such as eradicating poverty and ending the war. Nevertheless, he expressed optimism for the future.

"I am confident they could return the country to peace because they are supported by their respective parties, Frodebu and Uprona, which are strong parties," he said.

Another advantage for the new leaders, he said, was that Burundians were determined to achieve peace and that the international community was willing to help.

Buyoya said the ceasefire agreement between his government and the main Hutu rebel movement, the Conseil national pour la defense de la democratie-Force pour la defense de la democratie (CNDD-FDD) of Peter Nkurunziza, was not implemented because the rebels did not show any willingness to respect the accord.

"It now wants to seize power by force," Buyoya said.

Themes: (IRIN) Governance

[ENDS]

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