Rwanda: August 13, 2003

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It's not a big surprise -- but it is a setback. A meeting between Burundi's president and the head the rebel Hutu FDD was supposed to take place in Pretoria, South Africa. However, the meeting has been "postponed" -- perhaps for only a few days, perhaps for several weeks. The issue they are to discuss is FDD participation in the Burundian government. This would be a major step to ending the civil war. And this is why there is foot dragging in both the government and rebel camps. Many rebels don't trust any agreement with the government that doesn't include significant demobilization of the Tutsi-dominated Burundian Army. The Burundian government doesn't want to do that. Still, a preliminary meeting (which a subsequent report suggested could come off August 15 or 16) would nudge the process in the right direction. Stay tuned.