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Burundi: Top general killed by armed men in Bujumbura

Burundi

Burundi’s army General Athanase Kararuza has been killed in Bujumbura early Monday morning, a top Adviser at the presidency has announced.

The General was killed while dropping his kids near a college at Gihosha .

According to local sources his car was attacked by heavily armed men.

He had served as deputy-commander of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic between 2013 and 2015.

He had also been recently appointed as Adviser to Burundi’s first vice president.

Mes condoléances à la famile du Gén. Kararuza,collègue et ami. Qu'il repose en paix et que la terre lui soit légère. pic.twitter.com/b3fyz4yv1J

— Philippe Gateretse (@GateretsePhil) April 25, 2016

“They attacked with rockets and grenades. His guards fired back but unfortunately General Kararuza and his wife died on the spot. His wife died later as doctors tried to save her life,” a Burundian official said.

Burundi has been plunged into serious crisis ever since Pierre Nkurunziza decided to stay in power.

Close to 500 people have been killed and an estimated 270, 000 others have been forced to leave the country as clashes persist.

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