Project Description:

Enable the Political Directorate to act in a timely and credible manner to implement the Comprehensive Ceasefire Agreement signed in September 2006, in accordance with the Facilitator’s Plan of Action.

Since December 2008:

Support the Regional Initiative and the South African Facilitation in their efforts to achieve the adequate preparation and full implementation of the Comprehensive Ceasefire Agreement between the Government of Burundi and the Palipehutu?FNL, following the commitments made during the 4 December 2008 Regional Summit and Declaration.

Peacebuilding Goal:

Enable the Political Directorate to play a catalytic role in taking further the peace process in Burundi

Since December 2008:

Enable the consolidation of the commitments made in the 4 December Regional Summit with a view to finalising the implementation of the Comprehensive Ceasefire Agreement between the Government of Burundi and the Palipehutu?FNL, thereby establishing a stable foundation for early recovery, peace consolidation and socioeconomic development.

Immediate Objectives:

Enhance the capacity and credibility of the newly established Political Directorate as a complementary medium for the Facilitation’s work towards a full and sustainable implementation of the Comprehensive Ceasefire Agreement between the Government of Burundi and Palipehutu?FNL; Help remove logistical and other impediments and create a conducive environment for all stakeholders to complete the last phase of the Burundi peace process.

Since December 2008:

Support the Regional Initiative and the South African Facilitation in their efforts to achieve the full implementation of the 4 December Bujumbura Declaration through:

• Enabling the timely finalization of Rubira Assembly Areas for Palipehutu?FNL combatants to start moving into the Assembly Areas as per Article 4 of the 4 December Summit Declaration.
• Avoiding delays in the launching of this DDR phase (assembly but also disarmament and verification process) until a more adequate mechanism/tool is set up to address all DDR?related contingencies
• Enabling the Palipehutu?FNL leadership to consult with its cadres/elders on finding a new name for the movement as a matter of urgency as outlined in Article 3 of the 4 December Summit Declaration
• Enabling BINUB to support the South African Facilitation and the Political Directorate in financing other tasks and activities related to the implementation of the 4 December Declaration.

Outputs/Key Activities:

The main output of the first phase was a strengthened and cohesive Political Directorate capable of sustaining progress towards getting the Palipehutu?FNL to return and stay in Burundi as partner in peace.

Since December 2008:

• Rubira Assembly Area is fully operational and Palipehutu?FNL combatants can start assembling without delay
• Other financial/logistical hurdles to the timely start of DRR process (assembly, disarmament and verification phases) are removed, allowing the Facilitation/JVMM to do its work in earnest
• The Palipehutu?FNL leadership are enabled to consult with their cadres/elders on finding a new name for the movement in the dedicated timeframe and agreed?upon meetings are held, opening the road towards the registration of the movement as a political party
• BINUB supports the Facilitation in addressing any other unforeseeable emergencies that may arise, in a timely manner to ensure that the momentum in the peace process created by the 4 December Summit Declaration is maintained