Fighting displaces thousands in Bujumbura Rural

Fresh fighting between a rebel movement headed by Agathon Rwasa and the regular army has displaced thousands of people in Bujumbura Rural Province, a local administrator said. The administrator of Kanyosha Commune in Bujumbura Rural, Ernest Ndabakeneye, told IRIN Wednesday that the entire population of the Muyira and Ruyaga sub-counties had fled their homes following Monday's battle between the forces of the Forces nationales de liberation (FNL) and the army. He said panic-stricken residents of Mboza, Buzige, and Busumba in Ruyaga sub-county also fled their villages and sought refuge at Kanyosha town, the administrative centre of Kanyosha Commune. Residents of Muyira sub-county also fled to Buhonga and Muyira centres. "I don't have the exact number but the total population that fled in the two sub-counties might near 20,000," Ndabakeneye said. The governor of Bujumbura Rural, Ignace Ntawembarira, had earlier said that all residents from areas neighbouring Nyabiraba Commune who had fled had since returned home. Wednesday's fighting in neighbouring Kabezi Commune has, however, provoked a new wave of displacement. The administrator of Kabezi, Felicien Ntahombaye, told IRIN that the FNL attacked Wednesday military positions near Kabezi town, Masama and Mubone. He said two people were killed and four wounded. Local residents fled to Kabezi centre and Mutambu Commune, to the east. Ntahombaye said local officials were trying to persuade the displaced to return home because the fighting had subsided. This new displacement adds to the 10,000 other people who recently fled Muhuta Commune. Humanitarian actors in Bujumbura, the Burundi capital, said a joint evaluation of the situation carried out on 19 February found some 2,666 families in desperate need of food aid. The administrator of Isale Commune, Severin Bagorikunda, told IRIN that 256 households, about 1,080 people, from Mbale in Nyabiraba Commune, who had taken refuge in neighbouring Isale had been without assistance for almost four months now. Residents in Bujumbura Rural are frequently uprooted by FNL activity. The rebel group is the only armed movement that has refused to sign a ceasefire accord with the transition government of President Domitien Ndayizeye. In a speech on Wednesday to parliament, government officials and diplomats, Ndayizeye said despite several meetings with FNL representatives at home and abroad it had rejected peace. "It is right to think that the movement has opted on imposing war on the people and on the government of Burundi," he said. He added: "On this issue, you are all called upon honourable MPs, honourable senators, ladies and gentlemen to each use your influence in persuading the movement to rejoin the side that is for peace."