Another local leader killed in Burundi
An opposition leader was killed at Muhuta in Bujumbura rural province on Wednesday night. He is the fourth local leader killed since October in the province. While the Burundi government vehemently denies the existence of insecurity in the country, a commission to investigate the extra judicial killing was set up last week.
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A group of gunmen in military uniforms stormed the house of Leonard Ndayishimye, a local leader of the National Liberation Forces (FNL) party, around 11pm. He was first asked to pay fines. In spite of his willingness to offer them a cow, the group tied him up and took him away. He was found in the morning one kilometre from his home, still tied up.
In the meantime, general prosecutor Elysee Ndaye said a commission set up to investigate extrajudicial killings will report in December. It was set up after a human rights activist Pierre Claver Mbonimpa uncovered the execution of at least 22 members of former rebel FNL.
While hailing the setting up of the commission, Pierre Claver Mbonimpa remains sceptical. Several commissions set up in the past failed to tackle delicate issues especially when high ranking officials are involved.
Since May, Burundi has faced a wave of violence marked by targeted killings. The government blames them on what it calls armed bandits.
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