Burundi grenade attack leaves 4 dead

Four people including a child were killed following a grenade attack at a bar in Burundi’s capital, Bujumbura.

Four killed in Burundi grenade attack https://t.co/mHRUhL2M2a

— BBC Africa (@BBCAfrica) February 7, 2016

Three grenades were detonated during the incident on Saturday evening, leaving twelve other people injured.

“There were three simultaneous blasts. The one which hit a bar killed four people including a child who was selling boiled eggs,” said a resident of Kinama neighbourhood where the attacks happened.

Vincent Ngendahayo, a local administrator near Kinama, confirmed the death of the child.

The incident comes after another five people were killed in seperate attacks on Friday. The Republican Forces of Burundi (FOREBU) group which opposes president Pierre Nkurunziza has claimed responsibility.

President Pierre Nkurunziza’s decision to seek re-election to a third term last April sparked street protests that led to a failed coup in May and a rebellion that has left the central African country on the brink of civil war.

The African Union said on Friday it had appointed five heads of state to try to convince the government of Burundi to accept a peacekeeping force to quell the violence.

However, the Burundian government has rejected the proposed deployment of the AU peacekeepers in Burundi, saying they will be treated as an invading force.