Burundi leader gives rebels two weeks to surrender

Burundi’s president Pierre Nkurunziza has given an ultimatum to rebels to surrender in a fortnight.

The insurgents who operate in a southern district of the capital Bujumbura are considered by the government as the last rebels in the war torn country.

In a broadcast on the country’s national television, Nkurunziza said if the rebels fail to give themselves up in fifteen days he will launch a serious crackdown on them, saying, ‘‘know that for this we are ready to use the same methods as in 2010…We will bring security.”

This is not the first ultimatum given to rebels in the East African country. In 2010, the government carried out a crackdown on insurgents opposing the presidential poll.

The United Nations and Human Rights organisations denounced the brutality of the security forces and massive violations of human rights.

Burundi has been mired in a year-long crisis. Since president Pierre Nkurunziza announced his bid for a third term in office, more than 400 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands have fled the nation to neighbouring countries.

AFP