FNL shells Bujumbura, army retaliates

From the Mail and Guardian

Burundi's last active rebel group launched mortars at the capital Bujumbura in an attack hours after the country's army claimed to have killed 41 insurgents in recent weeks, the military said on Friday.

The National Liberation Forces (FNL), the country's lone remaining Hutu guerrilla army, fired three 60mm shells on Bujumbura's eastern Mutanga and Mutanga south districts late on Thursday, without causing casualties, it said.

Army spokesperson Adolphe Manirakiza said the rebel shells were launched from hills in Bujumbura Rural province, which abuts the capital and is the FNL's main zone of operation.

Hundreds of residents fled when the military responded to the shelling that Manirakiza said was an apparent attempt to remind authorities that the FNL was still a force to be reckoned with.

"We think the FNL wanted to show that they are still present, that they are still strong even though they are under pressure in Bujumbura Rural and Bubanza provinces," he said.

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