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.