Rebel group joins government in cabinet reshuffle

Burundian President Domitien Ndayizeye reshuffled his cabinet on Sunday to incorporate the country's largest rebel faction, the Conseil national pour la defense de la democratie-Forces pour la defense de la democratie (CNDD-FDD) led by Pierre Nkurunziza. In a decree, Ndayizeye named Nkurunziza as minister of state for good governance, making him the third senior most state figure after the president and vice-president. Both the president and the vice-president must consult the governance minister on matters concerning state security and government appointments. The reshuffle follows a government-CNDD-FDD power sharing agreement that was signed on 16 November in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Ndayizeye also named three other CNDD-FDD members into his cabinet: Interior Minister Simon Nyandwi, Communications Minister and Government Spokesman Onesime Nduwimana and Public Works Minister Salvator Ntahomenyereye. In accordance with the power sharing agreement, the CNDD-FDD is also due to get 40 percent of posts in the army staff and 35 percent in the police. It will have two posts in the bureau of the parliament and be represented by 15 members of parliament. A date for the swearing-in of the new ministers has not been announced. The three-year transitional government was established in Burundi following the signing of the Arusha Accord for Peace and Reconciliation on 28 August 2000, allowing for two 18-month phases under which the country would be led by a Tutsi and Hutu respectively. The mandate of the transitional government, now in its second phase, ends in November 2004 and will be followed by parliamentary and presidential elections. However, all parties must agree on a new electoral law, which is yet to be enacted. The full list of Ndayizeye's new cabinet is as follows: President: Domitien Ndayizeye (Front pour la democratie au Burundi - FROBEBU) Vice-President: Alphonse Kadege (Union pour le progress national - UPRONA) Minister of State for Good Governance: Pierre Nkurunziza (CNDD-FDD) Minister of External Relations and Cooperation: Terence Sinunguruza (UPRONA. He retains his post.) Minister of the Interior: Simon Nyandwi (CNDD-FDD) Minister of Public Security: Fulgence Dwima Bakana (FRODEBU, he moves from the Ministry of Justice.) Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals: Didace Kiganahe (FRODEBU, he moves from the Ministry of Good Governance.) Minister of Defence: Maj-Gen Vincent Niyungeko (Burundian army. He retains his post.) Minister of Planning, Development and Reconstruction: Seraphine Wakana (from Civil Society. She retains her post.) Minister of Community Development: Cyrille Hicintuka (from the smaller faction of Forces nationales de liberation – FNL. He moves from the civil service ministry.) Minister of Reintegration for the Displaced and the Repatriated: Francoise Ngendahayo (from Inkinzo y'Ijambo Ry'abarundi - Guarantor of Freedom of Speech in Burundi. She retains her post.) Minister for Peace and Reconciliation: Antoine Butoyi (newcomer from the Alliance national pour les droits et le developpement economique – ANADDE.) Minister of Development, Environment and Tourism: Albert Mbonerane (from CNDD-FDD faction led by Leonard Nyangoma. He moves from the Ministry of Communication.) Minister of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry: Pierre Ndikumagenge (UPRONA. He retains his post.) Minister of Crafts, Trade and Adult Education: Godefroid Hakizimana (from Parti social democrate – PSD. He retains his post.) Minister of Labour and Social Security: Dismas Nditabiriye (from Rassemblement pour la democratie et le developpement economique et social – RADDES. He retains his post.) Minister of the Civil Service: Gaspard Kobako (from the smaller CNDD-FDD faction. He moves from the Ministry of Public Works.) Minister of Finance: Athanase Gahungu (from Alliance burundaise-africaine pour le salut – ABASA. He retains his post.) Minister of Commerce and Industry: Thomas Minani (FRODEBU. A newcomer) Minister of Education: Salvator Ntihabose (FRODEBU. He moves from the Interior Ministry.) Minister of Social and Women's Affairs: Juliette Icoyitungiye (a newcomer from the Parti de liberation du peuple hutu -PALIPEHUTU led by Etienne Karatasi.) Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture: Barnabe Muteragiranwa (from the Rassemblement pour le peuple du Burundi – RPB. He moves from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.) Minister of Public Health: Dr Jean Kamana (FRODEBU. He retains his post.) Minister fpr Communication and Government Spokesman: Onesime Nduwimana (CNDD-FDD) Minister of Public Works: Salvator Ntahomenyereye (CNDD-FDD) Minister of Transport, Posts and Telecommunications: Severin Ndikumugongo (from the Parti du peuple – PP. He retains his post.) Minister of Energy and Mines: Andre Nkundikije (from AV-Intware -Alliance of the Brave. He retains his post) Minister of Institutional Reforms, Human Rights and Parliamentary Relations: Deogratias Rusengwamihigo (newcomer from the Parti pour la reconciliation du peuple – PRP.) Minister of the Presidency in charge of HIV/AIDS Issues: Luc Rukingama (UPRONA. He moves from the Ministry of Peace and Reconciliation.)