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Burundi Military Sites Attacked by Gunmen in Capital Burundi Military Sites Attacked by Gunmen in Capital
(about 3 hours later)
KAMPALA, Uganda — Gunmen opened fire Friday on multiple military installations across Burundi’s capital, Bujumbura, and more than a dozen assailants were killed by security forces, the government said. The assaults raised tensions in a central African nation that has been pulsing with violence since President Pierre Nkurunziza won a controversial third term in office in July. KAMPALA, Uganda — Coordinated attacks by gunmen struck Burundi’s capital before dawn on Friday, the most significant act of violence since a failed coup attempt in May, causing stores to shutter and jittery residents to bolt themselves indoors even as the government sought to assure the incredulous population that daily life was continuing as normal.
Unidentified gunmen attacked at least three military posts early Friday morning in and around Bujumbura, officials said, and another military camp outside the capital was also reported attacked. Firefights broke out between assailants and security officers in several neighborhoods, and barrages of gunfire could be heard rolling across the city, witnesses said. About 30 assailants were involved in the attacks, opening fire on at least three military installations in and around the capital, Bujumbura, and reportedly on another military camp farther away, the government said. Officials said more than a dozen attackers were killed by security forces, but it was not clear whether there were any civilian or government deaths.
In addition to the assailants who were killed, the government said, more than 20 were arrested; it was not clear whether there were any civilian or government deaths. The government referred to the assailants as common criminals trying to steal from a weapons cache to break people out of jail. The assaults raised alarm in Burundi, a central African nation that has been pulsing with violence since President Pierre Nkurunziza won a controversial third term in office in July. Citizens took to social media to ask leaders if they knew that the “sky was falling,” as one Twitter user put it, and accuse the government of incompetence.
On social media, citizens and Western diplomats expressed alarm about the violence, asking leaders if they knew that the “sky was falling,” as one Twitter user put it. The presidential office insisted in a Twitter post that no state of emergency was in effect. Firefights broke out between assailants and security officers in several neighborhoods, and barrages of gunfire could be heard rolling across the city into the afternoon. The streets were empty of all but police and military vehicles, and downtown Bujumbura came to a complete standstill, witnesses said.
Although sporadic acts of violence believed to be led by members of the opposition have increased in recent weeks, the government sought to play down any political dimension to Friday’s assault, referring to the assailants as criminals trying to steal from a weapons cache to break compatriots out of jail.
And despite the growing sense of a government losing control, with reports of continuing defections among the police force and military, the presidential office insisted in a Twitter post that no state of emergency was in effect.
“Some members of the armed gang are in total disarray,” one Burundi government spokesman, Karerwa Ndenzako, said on Twitter. He said he and other Burundian officials were meeting Friday evening, but only to discuss the 2016 budget, not any rumored state of emergency.“Some members of the armed gang are in total disarray,” one Burundi government spokesman, Karerwa Ndenzako, said on Twitter. He said he and other Burundian officials were meeting Friday evening, but only to discuss the 2016 budget, not any rumored state of emergency.
“Rumors are flying that Bujumbura downtown is vacant because of this attack,” Willy Nyamitwe, another government spokesman, said on Twitter. “It’s business as usual, ppl at work, kids at school.”“Rumors are flying that Bujumbura downtown is vacant because of this attack,” Willy Nyamitwe, another government spokesman, said on Twitter. “It’s business as usual, ppl at work, kids at school.”
But civilians in Bujumbura said differently. They said that the capital was under lockdown and that shops remained closed all day. Even on Friday evening, only military and police vehicles were on the roads, suggesting that this was not just another ragtag attack. But civilians in Bujumbura said differently. They said the capital was under lockdown and shops remained closed all day. Students at the University of Burundi who tried to attend end-of-year exams were turned away by security forces.
University students who tried to attend end-of-year exams were turned away by security forces. Echoing signs of alarm, three international airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways and RwandAir, canceled flights into Burundi on Friday. “The reason we could not land is that there is no personnel,” a Kenya Airways official told Reuters. It was not clear if the airport had been closed.
Echoing signs of alarm, three international airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways and RwandAir, canceled flights into Burundi on Friday. “The reason we could not land is that there is no personnel,” a Kenya Airways official told Reuters. It was not clear if the airport had been shut. The recent violence leading up to Friday’s assault has included assassination attempts, grenades thrown at government property and random killings. “Confrontation is escalating; it is more and more structured, and more and more people,” said Thierry Vircoulon, an analyst for the watchdog International Crisis Group. “We’re moving towards a guerrilla-type scenario.”
In recent weeks, Burundi’s unrest seems to have shifted from what appeared to have been government-sponsored killings to rebel and opposition attacks. There have been assassination attempts, grenades thrown at government property and random killings. “Confrontation is escalating; it is more and more structured, and more and more people,” said Thierry Vircoulon, an analyst for the watchdog International Crisis Group. “We’re moving towards a guerrilla-type scenario.” Analysts who suspect that the opposition is behind the campaign of violence say it is a way of pressuring the government to negotiate a power-sharing agreement. But Mr. Nkurunziza, who came to power in 2005 at the end of civil war in Burundi, has shown no sign of willingness to share power.
Analysts say the campaign of violence is a way of pressuring the government to negotiate a power-sharing agreement. But Mr. Nkurunziza, who came to power in 2005 at the end of civil war in Burundi, has shown no sign of willingness to share power.
The Constitution limits presidents to two terms, but when Mr. Nkurunziza announced in April that he would seek a third term, he argued that his candidacy was legal because he was first elected by Parliament, not by voters. His move led to a failed coup attempt in May, boycotts by opposition parties and waves of protests and violence after the vote in July.The Constitution limits presidents to two terms, but when Mr. Nkurunziza announced in April that he would seek a third term, he argued that his candidacy was legal because he was first elected by Parliament, not by voters. His move led to a failed coup attempt in May, boycotts by opposition parties and waves of protests and violence after the vote in July.
Since then, dozens of people have been killed and thousands have fled to neighboring Rwanda for safety. In November, the son of a famed Burundian human rights activist was found dead after being arrested during one of the protest rallies. Since then, dozens of people have been killed and thousands have fled to neighboring Rwanda for safety. In November, the son of a well-known Burundian human rights activist was found dead after being arrested during one of the protest rallies.