Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bujumbura (Agenzia Fides) - After three days of fighting between the army and rebel forces of the Forces for National Liberation (FNL), peace and calm have returned to Bujumbura, Burundi’s capital city. “Yesterday, April 20, we heard the last gunshots in the distance, and today there is a calmer climate in general,” local Church sources from Burundi’s capital told Agenzia Fides. The guerrilla fighters attacked Bujumbura on April 17, damaging several areas of the city, sending down heavy artillery from the hills surrounding the city. “In addition to the artillery, some rebels entered the capital and opened fire on military soldiers. A second attack took place on the night of April 18. The army was successful in forcing part of the rebel troop towards the border with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, but they were unable to move them from their positions in the hills,” said Fides’ sources.
According to official sources, 26 people have died in the fighting and the flight connections to Brussels have been suspended for security reasons.
The FNL is the only group of rebels that has still not reached a definitive peace accord with the government. “The suddenness of the FNL’s attack was studied in order to obtain the greatest political attention and make the greatest impact in the media possible,” Fides’ sources say. “A national dialogue forum opened on April 17, while the country awaited a delegation from the United Nations to evaluate the peace process. The delegation cancelled its visit for security reasons.” The forum for national dialogue took place in Bujumbura April 17-19. It was attended by 300 delegates from government, parliament, political parties, and major civil society organizations, in an effort to dialogue in order to resolve conflicts through an accord.
“With these attacks, the FNL has wished to send a sign to the government and now they await a response. The rebels demand government and military positions, as well as insertion into political life, in light of the coming elections of 2010,” Fides’ sources concluded. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 21/04/2008; righe 26, parole 336)
