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1st LD Writethru-Roundup: 4th senior army officer killed in Burundi capital within one month: police

Xinhua, April 21, 2016 Adjust font size:

Unidentified gunmen Wednesday night ambushed Colonel Emmanuel Buzubona, senior officer in the Burundian army, and shot him dead at Kinama in the north of the capital Bujumbura, police sources said Thursday.

"Colonel Emmanuel Buzubona was ambushed around 19:30 (17:30 GMT) by unidentified gunmen as he was about to reach his home at Kinama on a motorcycle with another man who was riding it. Criminals opened fire on them and Colonel Buzubona tried to defend himself, but the criminals detonated a grenade and he died immediately along with the other man," said Burundian Police Deputy-Spokesman Moise Nkurunziza.

According to him, Colonel Buzubona was an instructor in the framework of military cooperation within the East African Community (EAC) in Tanzania.

Nkurunziza indicated that an investigation has started to elucidate circumstances on the ambush.

Colonel Emmanuel Buzubona is the fourth Burundian senior officer killed in the capital Bujumbura by unidentified gunmen in less than one month.

Buzubona's assassination follows the killing of Lieutenant Colonel Darius Ikurakure and Major Didier Muhimpundu on March 22 and the assassination of Captain Elie Mugabonuwundi on April 7.

Meanwhile, two people were killed Wednesday evening at Kivumu in Mugamba, in the province of Bururi, some 80 km south of the Burundian capital Bujumbura, during clashes between gunmen and security forces in a bar.

"Security forces were informed that there were armed people who were not wearing military or police uniforms and who were sharing drinks with civilians in a bar in Kivumu," said Nkurunziza.

According to him, security forces are still pursuing them.

He added that unidentified people Wednesday night exploded a grenade at Jabe in the east African country's capital Bujumbura without making casualties.

Burundi is facing a political turmoil that broke out since April 2015 following the announcement by Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza that he would be seeking a third term.

His candidature, which was opposed by the opposition and civil society groups, resulted into a wave of protests, violence and even a failed coup on May 13, 2015.

Over 400 people are reported to have been killed since then while some 240,000 citizens sought exile in neighboring countries. Endit