Bujumbura — Parallel jurisdictions are still operational in Bujumbura Rural province, a stronghold of FNL, despite the ceasefire. Cases that cannot be solved amicably between the two opposing parties are referred to FNL leaders. If the FNL leaders find themselves unable to find a suitable solution, these cases are then referred to the regular judicial system.

This has been noted in Kanyosha commune of Bujumbura Rural province where even those land issues that are considered to be the most difficult to resolve are referred to FNL leaders rather than placed before the regular judicial system.

Reliable sources in Kanyosha indicate that they prefer FNL jurisdiction because of the speed with which it settles their cases. The government legal system is considered to demand considerable time and money and be highly cumbersome and slow.

These parallel jurisdictions became popular during the last decade as the population living in areas held by the rebels were unable to refer their cases to the government judicial system. In some areas where war was raging, even the army constituted the court system.

The legal system was considered to be a large part of the social conflict in Burundi. The merger that took place between the army and the police is still impossible in the legal system which demands highly qualified and specialized personnel.