WOMEN'S PERSPECTIVES ON THE ARUSHA PEACE INITIATIVE
By Agnes Nindorera

January 2001 – (EAMWA) The involvement of women in the on-going Burundi peace talks is a reflection of their general position in society. The initial battle for women's inclusion by mainly the urban based, educated women, enabled them to enter the peace talks, albeit long after they had started.

But even today women are primarily observers of the process. They can participate directly in the discussions but have no right to vote on any motion. With little influence in this male dominated society, Burundian women find it difficult to get their viewpoints on the agenda. The nineteen political parties that signed the peace agreement in Arusha, Tanzania, on August 28 2000, were asked by the facilitator Nelson Mandela to designate a person who to lead the transitional government. The parties were not able to reach a consensus on the new leader and consultations began between the alliance of Hutu parties, known as the G7 and that of Tutsi parties, G10. In their discussions, each group was to present a candidate for the presidency and vice-presidency, who were to come from different ethnic groups. However many Burundians however question the legitimacy of this process. In their opinion, a head of state cannot be designated by the political parties alone without the consensus of the people. Women in particular have not been able to put forward their views on this process. Catherine Mabobori, legal representative of Women Collective Association is of the view that the19 parties signed a "political" not a "peace agreement". "How can we call it a peace agreement when it was signed before achieving a cease fire?" she asks. "We are also worried about the consecration of the ethnicity as reflected in the accord," adds Mabobori. The 19 parties have agreed to a power-sharing deal between Hutus and Tutsis in all the state institutions as well as a 50-50 deal in the army. "This is not good for the country. If they share power between Hutu and Tutsi what do they do with other Burundians who do not belong to the two groups? Tomorrow the young people from the Baganwa group will ask what place is reserved for them in this country. And what about those who took the Burundian nationality?" Another minority group which has practically been excluded from the power-sharing deal is the third ethnic group in Burundi, the Twa, which makes up about 1% of the population. "We women cannot stand this situation because we are strongly committed to peace," concludes Mrs Nahimana.

From: http://www.eamwa.org/