3 March 2008
Bujumbura — The inhabitants of Gatumba fear that they might be targeted by FNL attacks after the National Defence Army killed fifteen FNL combatants in Gatumba on March 1.
In connection with the killings in Gatumba, the spokesman for the National Defence Forces, Lt Col Adolphe Manirakiza, says fighting broke out whil FNL combatants were looting households. The spokesman for PALIPEHUTU-FNL, Pasteur Habimana, has rejected the allegations of the national defence forces. He says FNL did not provoke the National Defence Forces. Habimana also denied that was involved in the fighting that took place in Cibitoke on 1 March at 19pm. PALIPEHUTU-FNL has also reiterated that it will continue to take part in the peace process and see it through to the end.
Despite these recent violent conflicts, the government of Burundi is also confident that the peace process will reach a successful conclusion this time. After the facilitator in Burundi's peace process, Charles Nqakula, briefed the President of the Republic on the breakthrough that was reached in the most recent round of talks, President Nkurunziza invited Agathon Rwasa to leave the bush.
If the peace process goes as planned, talks in the Joint Verification and Monitoring Mechanism will resume in early April. Agathon Rwasa will reach Bujumbura city in May when all combatants are gathered together. The whole peace process is due to come to an end in July.
The breakthrough in the talks of Dar es Salaam has not, however, led to any détente in the relations between the National Defence Forces and PALIPEHUTU-FNL. The fighting in Gatumba and Cibitoke have cast some shadow on the talks which would pave a way to the completion of the final phase of the peace process. These skirmishes were caused by FNL's attempts to rob food from surrounding communities. Currently, the government of Burundi maintains that combatants will be fed after FNL declares the true number of its forces.
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