Burundi: 15 killed in coordinated attacks on military camps

Terrified civilians in Bujumbura, the capital, stayed in their homes as stray rounds hit some of them.

Only military and police vehicles are patrolling the city center and road blocks have been set up, residents Karikurubu Pie and Jean de Dieu Rugira said Friday. Residents said the streets were empty when people normally headed to work and police were out in force.

“I am holed up in the corridor of my house with my wife and children”, said Eric, a resident of Musaga.

The International Committee of the Red Cross tweeted: “We are unfortunately unable to move around town for now, hoping to be allowed to provide assistance quickly”.

Burundi has been gripped by instability since April when the ruling party named Nkurunziza – in power since 2005 – as its candidate for the presidency. There was no immediate comment from Rwanda.

“A failed coup in May 13, many defeated attacks including this one… all their plans against #Burundi fail”, he added later.

Army spokesman Colonel Gaspard Baratuza claimed that 12 attackers were killed and 21 captured while five soldiers were wounded, following the early morning assaults on a base at Ngagara and a military training college in the capital, as well as another base at Mujejuru, 40km outside the city.

The incident is the worst violence since an attempted coup in May, sparked by President Pierre Nkurunziza’s third-term bid.

Baratuza said the attackers aimed “to stock up on weapons and ammunition”. The soldier, who asked not to be identified, lives outside the base but said he had spoken to those inside.

Both opponents and supporters of the government have been killed in apparent revenge attacks.

Civil society groups say more than 240 people have been killed since the unrest began in April after Nkurunziza said he would seek a third term in office. Nkurunziza won a disputed election in July. The Constitutional Court ruled in favor of Nkurunziza, who says he was entitled to another term because for his first term he was elected by parliament and not by popular mandate.

A deputy presidential spokesman wrote on Twitter that the cabinet was meeting as scheduled on Monday and would discuss the 2016 budget, but not the idea of declaring a state of emergency.