Regional bodies condemn killing of Burundian opposition figure

Regional and international bodies have come out to condemn the alleged assassination of one of Burundi’s opposition figure, Zedi Feruzi, who headed an opposition political party, UPD-Zigamibanga. Feruzi and his bodyguard, who were buried yesterday, were shot on Saturday evening under unclear circumstances though fueling further protests in the country. The organisations include; the UN, East African Community, Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa African Union and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR). In a joint statement released on Monday, the regional and international bodies condemned the assassination and the preceding grenade attack which claimed eight lives and injured an estimated 40 people. Both incidents took place in the capital, Bujumbura. They jointly pleaded with the Burundian government to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of these crimes against civilians and political leaders. The organisations further urged the government to guarantee the security of all citizens, respect their human rights and exercise restraint at all times especially while handling demonstrations. “These events should serve as a wakeup call to the political leaders in Burundi to act diligently and engage resolutely in searching for peaceful resolution of their differences through dialogue,” the joint statement reads in part. The remarks come a day after the opposition parties suspended talks with the government saying that the political climate was not conducive for deliberations. Violent protests entered the fifth week with dozens dead and over 100,000 seeking refuge in neighbouring countries including Rwanda, where nearly 30,000 have been given refuge.

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Regional bodies condemn killing of Burundian opposition figure