afrol News, 19 October - The remaining National Liberation Forces (FNL) of Burundi has agreed to come back to the peace negotiating table with the government.

Led by Agathon Rwasa, the FNL is so far the only active rebel group yet to cooperate with the Bujumbura government over peace deal.

At least, 300,000 people had been killed in Burundi's eight-year civil war [1993 to 2001].

The rebel group had earlier doubted the impartiality of the South African Security Minister, Charles Nqakula, who had been brokering peace between the FNL and Burundi government. But the group now agreed the mediation of Nqakula to thrive.

The FNL mediator, who abandoned a July meeting, has been invited to participate in Saturday's joint monitoring mechanism meeting in Bujumbura.

The two sides reached a cease-fire agreement more than a year ago. However, they stalled over a peace accord mainly because of the rebels demands to control ministerial portfolios in the government as well as integrate in the armed forces.

The recent abduction of the administrator of Muramba, Leonidas Ndereyimana, by the FNL rebels will undoubtedly will derail the peace process. The rebel leadership vowed to keep Ndereyimana until their detained comrades have been released in Burundian prisons.

A reported violent clashes had been ensuing between the group and its dissident faction. Unidentified gunmen recently killed three FNL dissidents in the capital Bujumbura.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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