11 September 2007
Bujumbura — Actions to relocate the FNL dissidents who were grouped in Buterere commune have already started. They have been relocated in Rugazi commune of Bubanza province. This relocation follows a bloody attack claimed by the mainstream FNL-PALIPEHUTU led by Agathon Rwasa and which made 20 deaths among the dissidents and one civilian at time when the defense forces and national police were still shilly-shallying on which actions to take.
Since those dissidents started stationing in Buterere the local administration as well as the local population called on the government to group them in zones which are not inhabited. After the attack, the defence minister, Lt General Germain Niyoyankana, announced that these combatants were to be grouped in another place. They were also to be disarmed and their security would be insured by national security forces in agreement with the UN Integrated Bureau to Burundi.
More than 250 dissidents will be relocated to Rugazi. This area raises some security concerns it constitutes is a stronghold of FNL-PALIPEHUTU and bordering with Kibira forest which shelters many combatants loyal to Agathon Rwasa. Although these combatants are grouped in this waiting area, they still claim to be loyal to Agathon Rwasa. They however indicate that they want Agathon Rwasa to speed up his steps in the search of peace through negotiations.
In past, many combatants tired of the war and/or with the promise of support of the government were grouped in waiting areas. Their demobilisation raised controversies as they never negotiated or signed any peace deals which would define their demobilisation or integration in the security forces.
Those who were loyal to Jean Bosco never got demobilised and their leader is now in prison and was sentenced to life imprisonment just few days ago.
Power sharing and integration of FNL combatants constitute two points which were not agreed upon during the peace deal brokered in Dar es Salaam last September year. By this time talks have stopped although the region is exerting too much pressure on the two conflicting sides to finish their talks before the end of this year.
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