Military Reform – 2004
2004
For the formation of a new National Defense Forces, the president in consultation with a Technical Forces Agreement signed on 2 November 2003 appointed 33 members of the Joint Military High Command, 20 of which were from the current military and 13 from the rebel movement CNDD-FDD. This decision was made on 6 January 2004 by signing a decree.1 The current chief of staff retained his position and the rebel chief of staff was appointed as deputy chief of staff.
Government also announced the target of an army of 20,000, which would be achieved first by the integration of all combatants from political parties and movements in the initial phase and subsequent demobilization (Source: Secretary General’s Report to the Security Council, S/2004/682, 25 August 2004). Initially, it was estimated the Burundian Armed Forces had 45,000 troops, and total number of combatants from political parties and movement were estimated to be about 35,000 (Source: Secretary General’s Report to the Security Council, S/2004/210, 16 March 2004). But a revised estimated suggested a total of 70,000 combatants of which 13,000 would be transferred to the police force. Estimated 10-15000 combatants were child soldiers or pensioners or wounded and therefore would be demobilized immediately.2
As a way to establish a new National Defense Force, a unit of 1,200 soldiers, 800 from the government and 400 from the CNDD-FDD started their training.3 By the end of 2004, 1,800 soldiers from the army and former rebel combatants went through the training program. On 31 December 2002, president promulgated laws on creation, organization, function and composition of the new National Defense Force and New Police Service.