During most of the period covered by this report, Burundi could not neatly be classified as a “conflict” or “post-conflict” country. Both the 2006 and 2008 ceasefires were violated by both parties. The FNL maintained control of significant otherwise uninhabited portions of the Kibira and Rukoko forests in which FNL members committed murders and abductions. Police and soldiers rarely entered these areas, in part due to fear of FNL ambushes, and in part due to an interpretation of the 2006 ceasefire agreement according to which this would constitute undue harassment of the FNL.[15] However, this limited the authorities’ ability to enforce the law and protect civilians.