Cablegate: Fnl Factions Fight It Out in Northern Bujumbura

VZCZCXYZ0006
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHJB #0629 2471242
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 041242Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0544
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS BUJUMBURA 000629

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/C

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BY PREL PGOV PINR
SUBJECT: FNL FACTIONS FIGHT IT OUT IN NORTHERN BUJUMBURA
COMMUNES

REF: BUJUMBURA 538

1. In the early morning hours of September 3rd and 4th,
factions of the Palipehutu-FNL (FNL) engaged in infighting in
northern Bujumbura. Embassy sources currently report twelve
casualties from the confrontations. The attacks occurred in
the Buterere and Kimana communes of Bujumbura, areas of the
city off limits to Embassy personnel.

2. Multiple media sources report dissension within the FNL
regarding its conflict with the Government of Burundi (GOB).
They report that rank and file are calling for a cessation of
hostilities, while FNL leader Agathon Rwasa and party
leadership wish to maintain an armed position against the
GOB. The reported infighting on September 3rd and 4th is
allegedly between a group loyal to Rwasa and groups
preferring a resolution to the GOB-FNL conflict.

3. Negotiations between the FNL, the last hold out rebel
group from Burundi's 13 year civil war, and the GOB fell
apart in July after many months of tenuous and tedious
progress (reftel). According to both the GOB and an FNL
spokesmen, negotiations are set to resume between the two
sides in the immediate future.
MOLLER

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