BURUNDI TROOP DEPLOYMENT COSTING TAXPAYER DEARLY - DA.
South Africa has received no financial support from the UN or other donors for its SANDF troop deployments in Burundi, Democratic Alliance defence spokesman Roy Jankielsohn said on Sunday.
The South African taxpayers would have to pay for these deployments until a political agreement had been reached, Jankielsohn said.
The United Nations was hesitant to get involved in the peace process in Burundi.
The deployment in Burundi was expected to cost about R679 million in 2003, a further R564 million in 2004, R771 million in 2005 and about R600 million in 2006.
"It is clear that South Africa has become involved in an open-ended process that will cost taxpayers a great deal of money," Jankielsohn said.
"A political agreement between all the parties to the conflict in Burundi is the only hope for a reprieve regarding at least some of the costs."
While the World Bank and other donors had pledged $90 million for the demobilization, disarmament, and reintegration process in Burundi, it was dependent on a political agreement between all conflicting groups.
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02 Novembre 2003 à 13:09 dans
- zsandf (anglais)
