Dispute Resolution Committee – 2003

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Dispute Resolution Committee – 2003

2003

Full Implementation Full implementation

Not all major parties to the conflict signed the agreement until 2003. During this three year gap, implementation of the dispute resolution committee began. A 29-member Implementation Monitoring Committee (IMC) was inaugurated on 27 November by former South African President Nelson Mandela. The UN Secretary General appointed Berhanu Dinka, the UN representative to the Great Lakes region to lead the IMC. The committee consisted of representatives from all signatories to the accord except for Parena — a hardline Tutsi party.1 The first meeting of the IMC took place on 30 November 2000,2 The IMC had to reach a settlement on issues related to transitional leadership, a timeline for its implementation, and the proposed peacekeeping force. The second meeting took place on 1 December 2000, and failed to resolve these issues.3 The new round of talks was scheduled in Arusha starting on 15 January 2001.4

In 2001, the IMC considered various issues and the implementation of the Arusha accord. In this regard, an agreement on transitional leadership was reached on 25 July 2001.5 For the serious ceasefire negotiation with rebel groups, the IMC told the transitional government to consider draft legislations on provisional amnesty for returning exiles; genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes; and creation of a national commission for the rehabilitation of refugees.6

Throughout 2002, the IMC worked with the government on various laws including on freedom of activities for political parties, provisional immunities, the law against genocide and the establishment of National Committee on Refugees and Sinistrés (CNRS) among others.7 One of the most significant achievements of the IMC was the ceasefire agreement of 2 December 2002, which was a significant peace process achievement.8

The IMC in its role to resolve disputes on implementing the accord, criticized the government for lack of political will to implement the accord as the transitional government did not make progress in releasing political prisoners and improving prison conditions.9 The committee tried to resolve disputes related to the adoption and enhancement of laws on provisional immunity, punishment of crime of genocide among other laws. Nevertheless, the committee was working very closely with the parliament to get the constitution, the electoral code and the reform in defense and security corps. The IMC also worked on the modalities for the establishment of the National Commission for Truth and Reconciliation.10 Among other important achievements was the deployment of the African Mission in Burundi

  1. “Rwanda; Ambassador Dinka To Lead Burundi Monitoring Committee,” Africa News, November 27, 2000.”
  2. “Burundi; UN Envoy Chairs First Meeting Of Committee On Burundi Peace Accord,” Africa News, November 30, 2000.
  3. “Burundi peace process in doubt after inconclusive talks end,” Associated Press, December 1, 2000.
  4. “New round of Burundi peace talks to begin in Arusha on 15 January,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, December 19, 2000.
  5. “UN: Installation of Burundi’s transitional government on 1 November ‘turning point’ in peace process says Security Council,” M2 PRESSWIRE, September 27, 2001.
  6. “Burundi; Create Conditions for Peace, Monitoring Body Tells Government,”Africa News, December 3, 2001.
  7. “Secretary General’s Report to the Security Council,” United Nations Security Council (S/2002/1259), November 18, 2002.
  8. “U.N. secretary-general welcomes Burundi cease-fire,” Associated Press, 3 December 2002.
  9. “Burundi; IMC Slams Detention of Political Prisoners, Poor Prison Conditions,” Africa News, October 7, 2003.
  10. “Secretary General’s Report to the Security Council,” United Nations Security Council (S/2003/1146), December 4, 2003.