Tentative mediation had already been carried out in 1988 through the Community of Sant Egidio, a Roman Catholic lay organization, For the role of the Community of Sant Egidio, see The United Nations and Mozambique, 1992 1995, pp. 15 and 200 201.

Rwanda welcomes the commitment of Sant' Egidio Community to join the international community in working for a speedy disarmament and demobilization of these groups.

279. Nicholas Obachina, a Nigerian national, was arrested on 15 November 1993 by three carabinieri from Sant apos Anna d apos Alfaedo, near Verona, who allegedly beat him violently with a sort of truncheon and then abandoned him unconscious by the roadside.

Secret talks held in Rome beginning in September 1996, under the auspices of the Sant apos Egidio Community, between the Government of Burundi and CNDD led to the signing, on 10 May 1997, of a framework agreement between the parties concerning the negotiations to be held with a view to restoring peace and democracy.