Mapping the Road to Peace in Burundi: the Pretoria sessions

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies details the outcomes of two peace sessions held in Pretoria in October and November 2003. These sessions facilitated agreements between the Transitional Government of Burundi (TGoB) and the rebel Forces for the Defence of Democracy-Forces for Defence of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) on political and security power sharing, leading to a Global Ceasefire Agreement on 16 November 2003.

• The Pretoria sessions resulted in two primary protocols: the 8 October "Protocol on Political, Defence and Security Power Sharing in Burundi" and the 2 November "Protocol on Outstanding Political, Defence and Security Power Sharing issues in Burundi". These agreements, along with the "Forces Technical Agreement" (FTA) signed in Dar es Salaam on 16 November 2003, established a framework for the reform of security institutions and the integration of the CNDD-FDD into the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement.
• Political power sharing under the 8 October Protocol granted the CNDD-FDD four ministerial posts, including a Minister of State for the Presidency. The group also secured 15 members in the National Assembly, three Governors, 30 Administrators, five Advisors, 20% representation in public enterprises, two ambassadorships, and six advisors' posts in the Diplomatic Corps. Additionally, they were granted the posts of Second Vice-President and Deputy Secretary General.
• The protocols established the Burundi National Defence Force (BNDF), where the Integrated General Staff and Officer Corps would be composed of 60% officers from the Burundian Armed Forces (FAB) and 40% from the CNDD-FDD. Command posts are to be allocated based on ethnic balance. Other security arrangements include a new police force and a Ministry of Intelligence, both with a representation split of 65% for the TGoB and 35% for the CNDD-FDD.
• The 2 November session resolved several outstanding issues: the CNDD-FDD would qualify to register as a political party once the cantonment process began; temporary immunity was granted to CNDD-FDD leaders and combatants as well as government security forces; and the Transitional Government of Burundi was to be reconstituted to include CNDD-FDD members within three weeks.
• The CNDD-FDD declined to participate in the Senate due to Article 147:9 of the Transitional Constitution. The parties agreed that the CNDD-FDD would implement other signed agreements without resolving the Senate issue, though they may raise the question again before the Arusha-mandated elections.
• The implementation of the peace protocols faces significant risks, including funding constraints for the African Mission in Burundi (AMIB), the lack of a finalized demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration (DDR) plan, and the World Bank's reluctance to fund DDR because the 2 December 2002 Ceasefire Agreement allowed CNDD-FDD soldiers to keep weapons in cantonment areas.
• Despite the Global Ceasefire Agreement of 16 November 2003, peace remains precarious because the Palipehutu-FNL (led by Rawasa) has not joined the negotiations and continues to conduct ambushes and mortar attacks on the FAB and Bujumbura. The Regional Initiative and African Union warned that if the FNL does not join negotiations within three months, it will be treated as an organisation against peace and stability.

APA

Boshoff, H., & Gasana, J. M. (2003). Mapping the Road to Peace in Burundi: the Pretoria sessions. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/BURUNDI1103.PDF

Chicago

Boshoff, Henri, and Jean Marie Gasana. Mapping the Road to Peace in Burundi: the Pretoria sessions. Institute for Security Studies, 2003. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/BURUNDI1103.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Boshoff |first1=Henri |last2=Gasana |first2=Jean Marie |title=Mapping the Road to Peace in Burundi: the Pretoria sessions |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=24 November 2003 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/BURUNDI1103.PDF |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{boshoff2003mapping, author = {Boshoff, Henri and Gasana, Jean Marie}, title = {{Mapping the Road to Peace in Burundi: the Pretoria sessions}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2003}, month = nov, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/BURUNDI1103.PDF}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }