TLS signed “N. Mandela,” two pages, 8.25 x 11.75, personal letterhead, March 6, 2001. An update letter to Kgalema Motlanthe, the Secretary-General of the African National Congress, in full: “The Governments of Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa have agreed to send troops to the Republic of Burundi to restore and maintain peace and security in terms of Chapter VII, Article 42 of the United Nations Charter.
A meeting of Defence Ministers of these countries met in Pretoria on 2 March 2001 to work out a detailed plan for the envisaged operations.
The Kingdom of Belgium has agreed to pay the cost of the operation. I hope the United Nations will meet any shortfall, if any in the amount to be made available by Belgium.
All the Burundi political parties, including the Government, signed a Peace Accord in Arusha, Tanzania on 28 August 2000.
A Donors’ conference in Paris in December 2000 pledged more than 400 million American dollars to modernize the economy of Burundi and to provide employment for its citizens. Several of the donors at the conference also undertook to write off the public debt of that country.
The World Bank will soon be training some of its youth to manage the transformation of its economy. Few countries, if any, have been visited by so many Heads of States as Burundi to encourage its leaders in their search for lasting peace and stability. Six came from the Great Lakes Region, plus Prime Minister Zenawi of Ethiopia. Five from the Southern African Region; Presidents of Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo and a representative of Col Qadaffi also attended. From outside the African Continent came President Clinton and representatives of Britain, Belgium, Germany and France.
We are on the verge of solving the question of a Transitional Government which will last for a period of three years, divided into two phases of 18 months each. The leader of the first phase will come from the Tutsi Community. And a Hutu for the second phase.
But the armed groups refuse to co-operate. I issued invitations to them as far back as January 2000 to join the Peace Negotiations and, in addition, held several meetings with them without success.
Meantime, innocent and defenseless civilians, including children and women, are being indiscriminately killed. One of these groups operates from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I have personally requested The U.N. Secretary-General to appeal to President Joseph Kabila, who seems to be totally committed to bring peace to his country, to stop such operations from his country.
About two days before the Paris Conference the armed groups tried to shoot down a Belgian civilian aircraft. Although it was hit, it managed to land.
It is for these reasons that we have arranged for troops from the abovementioned countries to be sent to Burundi to put an end to the slaughtering of innocent civilians.
I am ready to supply you with any additional information you may require. Please accept my personal regards and best wishes.” In fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope.
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