Inter-burundian dialogue team attends CNDD-FDD party
A day before the Imbonerakure Day that had the participation of over 80,000 youths in Gitega on 19 August 2017, a three day interfaith prayer was organized in the same province of from 16 to 18 August 2017. President Pierre Nkurunziza led the prayers with his Hallelua choir, preaching, singing and dancing. Several government officials attended the gathering including the Catholic Archibishop Simon Ntamwana and the truth and reconciliation commission chief, Bishop Jean Louis Nahimana.
3 dead, 29 injured
Three people died and 29 other were wounded with grenade attacks on bars in Bujumbura, according to police and health workers.
Police spokesman Pierre Nkurikiye said that one person had died at the scene and 29 others were rushed to hospital after grenades were thrown into two bars in the Buyenzi district.
Hospital sources said two people died of their injuries later. One survivor, who asked not to be named, said the attackers had not attempted to rob the bars or the patrons.
Burundi has suffered from periodic low-level violence since 2015 when President Pierre Nkurunziza decided to seek a third term in office.
Opponents said his candidacy violated the constitution and a peace agreement that ended a civil war in 2005. The opposition mostly boycotted the polls, and Nkurunziza won a third term.
A wave of unrest followed. The International Criminal Court (ICC) said it left about 450 people dead and forced hundreds of thousands fleeing the country.
No improvement in Burundi
The chairperson of the Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights in Burundi Fatsah Ouguergouz has said there is no improvement on the crisis in Burundi. He revealed that serious violations continue similar ones in the June oral report presented to the UN Human rights council in Geneva. The commission of Inquiry will present its report in Geneva on September 18th and 19th.
Opposition demands more sanctions
Opposition members of CNARD met in Belgium to discuss the future of Burundi. The spokesperson of CNARD Pancrace Cimpaye said he believes that only negotiations will get Burundi out of their current situation. Among the discussions during the three day meeting were the sanctions imposed by the west on Burundi and Cimpaye said that the sanctions on Burundi are still of paramount importance to force the Government of Burundi to engage in an inclusive dialogue. He further made a call to the AU, UN and EU to continue to impose sanctions on Burundi in an effort to convince Burundi to engage in negotiations.
Killings, grenade attacks and gunshots
Some of the reported cases of killings and grenade attacks include:
- On 13 August 2017, A grenade attack in Rugeyo in the District of Musigati resulted in one person being killed
- On 14 August 2017, a grenade attack in Kigoma, in the District of Buhiga resulted in 2 persons among whom a child being wounded
- On 14 August 2017, A 70 years old woman Immaculée Misago was killed at Gahahe in the District of Butihinda
- On 15 August 2017, the vehicle of Bubanza governor, Tharcisse Niyongabo was ambushed in Gihanga by unidentified assaillants. No human damage was reported but the vehicle was partially broken with bullets
- On16 August 2017, a dead body of an unidentified person was recovered in Ndurumu in Karusi
- On 17 August 2017, the dead body of one influential Imbonerakure Elie Kwizera in Gitega was one recovered in Karusi
- On 17 August 2017, two grenade attacks on 16th street Buyenzi n° 21 and 26 resulted in one person being killed whereas 29 were wounded
- On 18 August 2017, two dead bodies of unidentified persons were recovered in Ruhwa. This makes 17 dead bodies recovered in 2 weeks in the area.
- On 18 August 2017, several gunshots were reported at the Catholic Parish of Kigwena in the District of Rumonge
- On 19 August 2017, a dead body of unidentified woman was recovered in Jiji river in the District of Bururi
Arbitrary arrests and abductions
Some of the arrests and abductions that were reported during the period report:
- On 16 and 17, an estimated number of 57 young people from Ruhororo and Tangara were arrested as they planned to travel to Tanzania. All were taken to Ngozi police station where they were detained
- On 17 August 2017, Marcel Nsengiyumva aka Fiston was abducted from Kamenge and taken to unknown destination. Marcel was returning from Rwanda where he lived for the 3 previous years
- On 19 August 2017, 98 students were arrested following a police search operated at the University of Burundi campus Mutanga by the anti- riot police in partnership with Imbonerakure militiamen
