Burundian forces still torturing, killing opponents - U.N. investigators

U.N investigators on Thursday said that Burundian security forces and allied militia are still abducting , torturing and killing people.

However, authorities in Burundi fiercely denied the accusation.

The U.N. commission of inquiry collected 470 testimonies on violations committed since 2015 that reflects “deep and widespread fear” among its exiles.

“We were struck by the particularly brutal and cruel nature of the violations described to us. Several victims, usually young members of political opposition parties, especially from the Movement For Solidarity and Democracy, or belonging to the National Liberation Forces, or people accused of supporting or belonging to armed groups or having firearms, described to us the systematic torture and particularly cruel and inhumane treatment they were submitted to by members of the National Intelligence Service” the chairman of the commission of inquiry on Burundi, Fatsah Ouguergouz.

In April 2015 , President Pierre Nkurunziza said he was going to resume military service which resulted into his opponents taking up against him.

The chaos resulting from that led to more than 700 people being killed and estimated 400 00 people fleeing to neighboring countries, according to the state-run National Commission for Human Rights.

However, Burundi’s U.N. ambassador Rénovat Tabu said the allegations on violations collected by the inquiry commision were “partial and tendentious” and that investigators were ignoring the government’s efforts to restore peace and security.