The government of Germany
Germany is supporting the reintegration of former rebels in Burundi. The Federal Foreign Office has made available 600,000 US dollars to the United Nations to enable more than 11,000 people to return to their homes.
Germany’s Ambassador to Burundi, Joseph Weiß, and the representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Yussef Mahmoud, signed an agreement in Bujumbura. UNDP will now manage the funds and use them as envisaged.
Following the ceasefire in 2005, a process of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) began in Burundi with the aim of reintegrating former FNL combatants and rebels into society. Germany’s contribution is intended to help ensure the complete implementation of the ceasefire and to make it possible for former combatants and others to return to their communities.
Strengthening democracy in Burundi
A rapid DDR process is crucial if the political crisis in Burundi is to end for good. The aim must be to integrate all political forces into the country’s political spectrum. This will also fulfil an important prerequisite for free and fair elections in 2010.
The international community is making available a total of around 2.8 million US dollars for these measures. Support for DDR processes is a key element in the stabilization of post-conflict states in Africa.
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