The Pretoria Protocol on Political, Defence
and Security Power Sharing in Burundi, 8 October 2003
PREAMBLE
The Transitional Government of Burundi (hereafter referred to as "TGoB") and the National Council for the Defence of Democracy -Forces for Defence of Democracy (hereafter referred to as "CNDD-FDD") both hereafter referred to as "the Parties", hereby;
Take note of the commitments of the TGoB and the CNDD-FDD to reach an all embracing agreement for the achievement of lasting peace, security and stability in Burundi;
Acknowledge the principles and objectives of the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi and the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of Burundi;
Reaffirm their commitment to the Ceasefire Agreement between the Parties signed in Arusha on 2 December 2002 as well as the Joint Declaration of Agreement addressing the practical implementation of the December 2002 Ceasefire Agreement, signed in Pretoria on 27 January 2003;
Acknowledge further the Dar es Salaam Communique of the Regional Summit of 20 July 2003 recommitting the parties to a negotiated framework to resolve all outstanding issues related to Political Power Sharing and Technical Forces Agreement;
Recognise that the conflict in Burundi requires an inclusive dialogue and participation of all political groups and movements;
Conscious of the need to give impetus to the Implementation of the content and spirit of the various agreements reached on the Burundi Peace Process;
Hereby agree to engage in the following process in order to effect the power sharing agreement in terms of paragraphs 1.1.12 and 1.1.15 of the December 2002 Ceasefire Agreement between the CNDD-FDD and the Transitional Government of Burundi.
POLITICAL POWER ISSUES
EXECUTIVE
The CNDD -FDD will have four ministries including a Minister of State. The Presidency will consult the Minister of State on all key matters.
THE LEGISLATURE
National Assembly
1. CNDD-FDD will participate in the Bureau as follows:
- Second-Vice President.
- Deputy Secretary-General.
The Bureau will be increased to six.
Two advisors will be appointed in the Staff of the National Assembly.
2. CNDD-FDD will also have 15 members of the Assembly.
3. Measures will be taken to respect the balance among the political families as reflected in the Arusha Agreement.
Senate
The question of the participation of the CNDD-FDD will be discussed at the next meeting, prior to the Regional Summit. (See Article VII below)
GOVERNORS OF PROVINCES
CND-FDD will have:
- Three Governors.
- Five Advisors.
DIPLOMATIC CORPS
CNDD-FDD will have:
- Two ambassadors.
- Six secretaries and/or advisors.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
CNDD-FDD will have 30 Administrators.
PUBLIC ENTERPRIZES
CNDD-FDD will lead 20% of these. The exact distribution will be negotiated later.
DEFENCE AND SECURITY ISSUES:
The power sharing process in terms of defence and security issues shall consist of the following phases;
I. THE BURUNDI NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCE
1.1 Cantonment
The combatants of the CNDD-FDD will move to areas designated by the Joint Ceasefire Commission (JCC) under the supervision of the African Mission. The Burundi Armed Forces (FAB) will be confined to areas agreed upon under supervision of the African Mission, with certain elements being exempted in accordance with par 1.1.7 of the December 2002 Ceasefire Agreement.
1.2 Verification
1.2.1 Once members have been cantoned and confined, a verification exercise will be undertaken to determine the size of the respective forces by the Joint Ceasefire Commission. The suitability of personnel submitted by both parties will be determined on the basis of the Forces Technical Agreement (FTA), to be finalized, under the guidance/leaders of the JCC.
1.2.2 Those determined to be suitable will form the new Defence and Security Forces of Burundi.
1.3 Formation of the Burundi National Defence Force (BNDF)
1.3.1 The integrated General Staff and the Officer Corps, shall be composed of 60% officers selected from the governmental army and 40% officers from the FDD.
1.3.2 The composition of the non commissioned officers and the rank and file shall be determined by the integrated General Staff according to the size of each party and of the agreed balance.
1.3.3 On proposal of the integrated General Staff, the government shall determine; The structure of the Burundi National Defence Force The size of the army and Composition of the officer corps.
1.3.4 The allocation of command posts shall be on the basis of ethnic balance (50-50) as stipulated in the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement.
1.3.5 The President of the Republic of Burundi undertakes to give expression to this arrangement through a Presidential decree.
1.4. Demobilisation
1.4.1 Combatants of the CNDD-FDD or FAB who have been found not to be eligible to join the Burundi National Defence Force terms of the Forces Technical Agreement, will be demobilized, taking into consideration paragraph 1.1.14 of the December 2002 Ceasefire Agreement.
1.4.2 The demobilization and integration of these combatants will be progressive, bearing In mind social stability and affordability. The Government shall oversee this process through the Minister of State and the Minister of Defence.
1.4.3 The final phase of demobilization will take place once the elected government is in place, guided by the required size of the Burundi National Defence Force and taking into consideration the work undertaken by the Transitional Government of Burundi. The Government of Burundi shall oversee this process.
II. BURUNDI POLICE FORCE
2.1 The parties agreed on the establishment of a new police force in Burundi. 2.2 The structure of the new Police Force will be guided by the following principles: - Inclusivity and integration.
- General Staff structure based on the
principle of 65% TGoB and 35% CNDD-FDD;
- The principle of 50-50 ethnic balance.
2.3 Composition of junior structures of the Police Force shall also be guided by the principles of inclusivity
2.4 The decisions will be taken on the basis of consensus
III. GENDARMERIE
3.1 The Gendarmerie will be treated as part of the FAB;
3.2 Elements of the Gendarmerie may be deployed to both the new Defence and Police Forces,
3.3 Equally, elements of the CNDD-FDD will also be deployed into the Burundi Police Force.
IV. Militia
Militia will be disarmed according to the December 2002 Ceasefire Agreement under the supervision of the African Mission at the beginning of cantonment and barracking exercises.
V. INTELLIGENCE
5.1 The parties agreed on the establishment of a Ministry of Intelligence under the President;
5.2 Parties will submit names for the General Staff of Intelligence to the President.
The agreed criteria for the composition will be as follows;
- 65% -TGoB
- 35% -CNDD-FDD
- The principle of 50-50 ethnic balance.
5.3 The President informed by the capacity/suitability of persons proposed and guided by the principles of integration and inclusivity shall retain the discretion to determine the final composition of his General Staff of Intelligence.
VI. PALIPEHUTU/FNL
6.1 To address the current security situation in Burundi certain elements of the FAB will be exempted from confinement, as per the provisions of the December 2002 Ceasefire Agreement.
6.2 Prior to the establishment of a National Defence Force and in terms of the December 2002 Ceasefire Agreement, joint military units will be constituted to perform certain tasks:
VII. OUTSTANDING MATTERS:
- Temporary Immunity,
- CNDD-FDD as a political party.
- Forces Technical Agreement.
- The question of the participation of CNDD-FDD in the Senate.
These matters will be finalized at the next meeting that will be convened as a matter of urgency.
Done in Pretoria, South Africa on 8 October 2003
For the Transitional Government of Burundi,
His Excellency Domitien Ndayizeye
President of the Republic of Burundi
For the: CNDD-FDD Movement,
Mr. Pierre Nkurunziza
Legal Representative of the CNDD-FDD Movement
In the presence of:
His Excellency Jacob Zuma
Deputy president of the Republic of South Africa
Facilitator of the Burundi Peace Process