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| Burundi gunmen target military sites in deadly attacks | Burundi gunmen target military sites in deadly attacks |
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| Up to seven people have been killed in fighting as anti-government gunmen attacked military sites in Burundi’s capital, officials and soldiers said. | Up to seven people have been killed in fighting as anti-government gunmen attacked military sites in Burundi’s capital, officials and soldiers said. |
| In the latest flare-up in a country western powers fear is sliding back into ethnic conflict, two soldiers and five attackers were killed in clashes around a base in Ngagara, a district of Bujumbura, one soldier said. He lives outside the base, one of three sites attacked in the capital, but said he spoke to colleagues inside. | |
| A military spokesman could not be reached for comment. | A military spokesman could not be reached for comment. |
| Heavy gunfire and blasts erupted in the early hours of Friday morning and shots were still heard across the capital after daybreak. Residents said the streets were empty when people were normally heading to work and police were out in force. | Heavy gunfire and blasts erupted in the early hours of Friday morning and shots were still heard across the capital after daybreak. Residents said the streets were empty when people were normally heading to work and police were out in force. |
| Related: Burundians living in daily fear face stark choice: flee, or risk dying in the attempt | Jessica Hatcher | Related: Burundians living in daily fear face stark choice: flee, or risk dying in the attempt | Jessica Hatcher |
| The violence in Burundi risks further unsettling an already volatile region. Twenty years ago there was a genocide in neighbouring Rwanda. | The violence in Burundi risks further unsettling an already volatile region. Twenty years ago there was a genocide in neighbouring Rwanda. |
| Night-time gunfire and sporadic blasts have been common in Bujumbura during a crisis sparked in April by President Pierre Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term, which opponents, often called “Sindumuja”, said violated a deal that ended civil war in 2005. Nkurunziza won a disputed election in July. | |
| The crisis led to a failed coup in May. One of the generals behind that coup said in July the group still sought to topple the president, raising worries that the poor country was slipping into conflict again. Other plotters were caught and face trial. | The crisis led to a failed coup in May. One of the generals behind that coup said in July the group still sought to topple the president, raising worries that the poor country was slipping into conflict again. Other plotters were caught and face trial. |
| “Sindumuja tried to attack military camps but they failed,” presidential media adviser Willy Niyamitwe wrote on Twitter, describing the raids as a diversion to try to free prisoners. | “Sindumuja tried to attack military camps but they failed,” presidential media adviser Willy Niyamitwe wrote on Twitter, describing the raids as a diversion to try to free prisoners. |
| Without mentioning casualties, he dismissed comments that the city was empty, saying it was “business as usual” with people at work and children at school. | Without mentioning casualties, he dismissed comments that the city was empty, saying it was “business as usual” with people at work and children at school. |
| Related: Burundi in economic turmoil as unrest triggers fourfold increase in bad debt | Related: Burundi in economic turmoil as unrest triggers fourfold increase in bad debt |
| A deputy presidential spokesman said on Twitter that a cabinet meeting was taking place on Friday morning. He also said the aim of the “armed gang” was to free prisoners. | A deputy presidential spokesman said on Twitter that a cabinet meeting was taking place on Friday morning. He also said the aim of the “armed gang” was to free prisoners. |
| Alongside the raid on Ngagara camp in the north of Bujumbura, two southern sites were attacked – the Muha camp and ISCAM, an institute for officers, soldiers and residents said. | Alongside the raid on Ngagara camp in the north of Bujumbura, two southern sites were attacked – the Muha camp and ISCAM, an institute for officers, soldiers and residents said. |
| Battle lines in Burundi’s crisis have until now followed the political divide, but western powers and regional countries fear old ethnic rifts could reopen if violence continues unchecked. | Battle lines in Burundi’s crisis have until now followed the political divide, but western powers and regional countries fear old ethnic rifts could reopen if violence continues unchecked. |
| Burundi’s 12-year civil war had pitted rebel groups of the Hutu majority, including one led by Nkurunziza, against what was then an army led by the Tutsi minority. Rwanda has the same ethnic mix. | Burundi’s 12-year civil war had pitted rebel groups of the Hutu majority, including one led by Nkurunziza, against what was then an army led by the Tutsi minority. Rwanda has the same ethnic mix. |