The rebels attacked a military installation in the afternoon at Kanyosha, a semi-rural area south of the capital and killed three soldiers. Earlier in the day, three FNL rebels were killed in a confrontation with a group of soldiers in Kabezi (15 kilometers south of the capital).
South Africa's minority Democratic Alliance defense spokesman pointed out that no financial support from the UN or other donors has been received for the SANDF troop deployments in Burundi. They claim that South Africa has become involved in an open-ended process that will cost taxpayers a great deal of money. The deployment in Burundi was expected to cost about $98.6 million in 2003, a further $81.9 million in 2004, $111.9 million in 2005 and about $87.1 million in 2006.
While the World Bank and other donors had pledged $90 million to Burundi for the demobilization, disarmament, and reintegration process, it was dependent on a political agreement between all of the groups.
The peace agreement is signed, allowing the FDD rebels to be included in the military and form a political party. Both government and rebel fighters will be granted temporary immunity from prosecution. - Adam Geibel
