The Burundian army said that about 50 rebels from the National Liberation Forces were killed in heavy fighting on Wednesday that also left two government soldiers dead. The clashes were among the worst since hostilities resumed three weeks ago, dashing hopes of a breakthrough in peace efforts.
Burundian rebels fired a dozen shells at the capital, Bujumbura, overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, hitting the residence of the Vatican’s ambassador, an army spokesperson said. The attack by the National Liberation Forces came the day after the Burundian military bombed rebel strongholds north of the capital.
Burundi’s army battled rebels for a third day running on Saturday, in clashes that have killed 20 fighters and six soldiers, a military spokesperson said. In some of the worst fighting in months, military helicopters were deployed to the outskirts of the capital, Bujumbura, on Friday against the rebel Forces for National Liberation.
Burundi’s last remaining rebel group accused the army of killing five of their commanders and kidnapping five more fighters in clashes that threaten to undermine a shaky peace process. A military spokesperson denied the allegations. A a spokesperson for the Hutu Forces for National Liberation said the fighting took place on Friday in the rebel stronghold of Musigati.
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/ 18 January 2008
The African Union Commission’s chairperson recommended on Friday a six-month extension for a peacekeeping force in Somalia and criticised member states for failing to honour pledges for troops. A 1 800-strong AU Mission in Somalia has been carrying out peacekeeping duties in Mogadishu, where Islamist insurgents have been fighting the interim government.
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/ 24 December 2007
A first contingent of 100 peacekeepers from Burundi deployed in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Sunday, hours after fighting between Islamist rebels and government forces killed at least four people. The arrival of the soldiers marked the first phase of long-delayed support for 1 600 Ugandan troops.
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/ 4 September 2007
At least 20 Burundi fighters were killed on Tuesday in heavy clashes between two rival rebel factions that sent scores of residents fleeing the capital’s northern suburbs. Machine gunfire and explosions shattered the air as insurgents opposed to Agathon Rwasa, the leader of the rebel Forces for National Liberation, battled fighters loyal to him.