Burundi: Bujumbura still submerged in violence

Violence continues in Burundi despite various appeals for calm by the international community.

Two people have been wounded in the capital city of Bujumbura, following the explosion of three mortar shells on Monday. One of the shells fell within a hundred meters from Bujumbura mayoral offices causing a panic, according to several witnesses.

Police officers were deployed in search of armed criminals linked to the attack and firing from the nearby district of Jabe.

Over the weekend, musician Pascal Treasury Nshimirimana was killed during clashes with the police. According to the police, he died accidentally while trying to disarm an officer. The musician took part in a demonstration against the candidacy of President Pierre Nkurunziza for a third term.

In a separate incident, youth leader William Nimubona’s body was found dumped in Bujumbura’s Kavumu neighbourhood. Nimubona was the head of the youth wing of the National Liberation Forces (NLF) party led by Agathon Rwasa, a leading opposition politician who agreed to take the post of deputy parliamentary speaker after Mr Nkurunziza won a third term in disputed elections.

Burundian authorities foiled a military coup in mid- May, but now armed violence have intensified since the controversial re- election of President Nkurunziza in mid- July.