Bujumbura — Clashes opposing the national defence forces and FNL-PALIPEHUTU combatants occurred in Gihanga on 8 November disturbing the traffic on the main road connecting Bujumbura to Rugombo.

The clashes which wounded two FNL-PALIPEHUTU combatants took place near the 3rd Transversal at Gihanga in the savannah of Rukoko. Rukoko is home to many FNL-PALIPEHUTU combatants.

These combatants move all along the main road without causing insecurity to the passers-by. These clashes were provoked by an unidentified army officer in a convoy. This army officer ordered that his transmission agents disarm one of the FNL-PALIPEHUTU. He continued his journey with their weapon.

The army has been accusing the FNL-PALIPEHUTU combatants to be responsible of a number of the robberies committed in Bubanza province.

A curfew has been imposed in the commune of Gihanga by security and administrative officials to curb robberies that have become rife in this area. The incident of this Friday took place around 4:00 P.M. many hours before the curfew.

The Spokesman of the national defence force indicated after the attack of Gukungwe two weeks ago that the army has exercised restraints over a number of provocation acts posed by the combatants of FNL-PALIPEHUTU. He however did not mention that a forceful disarmament of combatants of FNL-PALIPEHUTU still loyal to Agathon Rwasa was to begin.

In a bid to calm down the situation, top army and administrative authorities of Bubanza province visited Gihanga on 09 November. The relationships between FNL combatants and the governor of Bubanza are not bad. The governor of Bubanza succeeded to free a chief of sector that the FNL combatants took in hostage to force the freeing one of theirs three weeks ago.