Assembly/AU/3 (X)
Page 9
dismissed the “virtual demarcation” of the border as unacceptable and legally
baseless, calling for a physical demarcation, through dialogue, and respect of the
Algiers Agreement.
38.
At the time of finalizing this report, the UN Security Council was yet to decide
on the extension of UNMEE mandate, against the backdrop of continued stalemate in
the peace process and further constraints on the Mission’s operations, arising from
the limitations on fuel supplies imposed by Eritrea.
d)
Burundi
39.
The political crisis which paralyzed the National Assembly and the
Government for months on end died down, thanks to the dialogue initiated in August
2007 by the President of the Republic between the main Opposition parties FRODEBU and UPRONA - and concluded to the satisfaction of all concerned. Thus,
on 14 November 2007, the country set up a Government made up of the three main
political parties - CNDD-FDD, FRODEBU and UPRONA - in accordance with the
Constitution of Burundi. As part of the efforts that helped diffuse the situation,
mention should be made of the two PSC meetings held on 20 July and 10 August
2007 respectively, and also the visit undertaken to Bujumbura by the AU
Commissioner for Peace and Security in early August 2007.
40.
The Palipehutu-FNL issue has so far remained unresolved. In this regard, it
should be recalled that last July, the day after the 17 June 2007 meeting between
President Pierre Nkurunziza and Agathon Rwasa in Dar-es-Salaam, Palipehutu-FNL
delegates in the implementation structures unexpectedly decided to leave Bujumbura
on 21 July 2007. The unceasing efforts of the Facilitation and the AU Mission in
Burundi (AMIB), in collaboration with the United Nations, to get the parties to bring
the Comprehensive Ceasefire Agreement implementation process to completion,
have since remained unsuccessful.
41.
In fact, the process became even more complicated. Armed men claiming to
have dissociated themselves from Mr. Rwasa, leader of Palipehutu-FNL
progressively moved into various locations around the capital. Called in by the
Government to help, the Facilitator, after consultation with the Regional Initiative, was
instructed to handle this particular issue from a purely humanitarian angle. These
dissidents were thus assembled in two camps where they are being taken care of.
42.
It should be recalled that, at its Meeting of 20 July, the PSC urged the parties
to honor their obligations and commitments and to speed up the Comprehensive
Ceasefire Implementation Process which was expected to be concluded not later
than December 2007. In view of the difficulties encountered and the attendant delays,
the Facilitator plans to give an account of his mandate and to seek fresh directives on
the way forward.
e)
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
43.
During the period under consideration, the political situation in the DRC
continued to stabilize. The overall cordial relations between the Government and the
Parliament paved the way for adoption of crucial laws, including those relating to
decentralization, the status of the opposition, funding of the political parties and other