Burundi crisis: US tells its citizens to leave

[RUCCI]

Serikali ya Marekani imeshauri Raia wake walio nchini Burundi kuondoka nchini humo haraka iwezekanavyo baada ya watu 87 kuuawa kwenye ghasia zilizotokea siku ya Ijumaa.

Ghasia zilizojitokeza kwenye mitaa ya mji mkuu wa nchi hiyo, Bujumbura ni mbaya zaidi tangu kuanza kwa vurugu mwezi Aprili baada ya Rais Pierre Nkurunziza kuamua kuwania tena urais kwa muhula wa tatu.

Shirika la kutetea haki za kibinadamu la Human Rights Watch (HRW) limeitisha uchunguzi kuhusu mauaji hayo ya Ijumaa.

Mwezi uliopita, Ubelgiji pia iliwashauri raia wake kuondoka Burundi, huku Muungano wa Ulaya (EU) nao ukipunguza wahudumu wake, kwa kuondoa wafanyakazi ambao ni wa muda, "familia na wafanyakazi ambao si muhimu sana."

"Kufuatia machafuko ambayo yanaendelea kuongezeka, Wizara ya Kigeni imeagiza kuondoka kwa jamaa za maafisa wa Marekani na maafisa ambao si wa kushughulikia dharura nchini Burundi," taarifa ya Marekani ilisema.

"Ubalozi wa Marekani unaweza kutoa huduma za dharura kwa kiwango cha chini tu kwa raia wake nchini Burundi."

Jijini Nairobi, wanaharakati Jumapili jioni waliwakusanya vijana kutoka Burundi, Kenya na nchi nyingine za Afrika Mashariki jijini Nairobi kwa ajili ya mkesha na kuwasha mishumaa kuwakumbuka Raia wa Burundi walioathirika kutokana na mzozo wa kisiasa nchini mwao.

Aidha, walitoa wito kwa jamii ya kimataifa kuingilia kati.

The US state department is warning Americans not to travel to Burundi as political violence there increases.

A travel warning issued on Sunday urges US citizens in the central African country to leave "as soon as it is feasible to do so".

On Friday, 87 people were killed after three military sites were attacked, Burundi's army said.

US rights group Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Sunday called for an investigation into the killings.

Protests in Burundi began in April when President Pierre Nkurunziza announced he would seek a third term in office.

Last month, Belgium advised its citizens to leave Burundi, while the EU cut staff levels, temporarily evacuating employees' "families and part of the non-essential staff".

"As a result of continuing violence, the Department of State ordered the departure of dependents of US government personnel and non-emergency US government personnel from Burundi," the US statement read.

"The US Embassy is able to offer only very limited emergency services to US citizens in Burundi."

It also gave advice for citizens who may encounter violence, advising them to stay indoors in ground floor rooms, away from doors and windows.

Col Gaspard Baratuza said 87 people were killed in clashes in the country's capital, Bujumbura, on Friday - 79 "enemies" and eight soldiers and policemen.

Witnesses told AFP that some of those killed were shot execution-style with their arms tied round their backs.

Carina Tertsakian, HRW's researcher for Burundi, called for a "serious and independent" enquiry into the killings.

"This is by far the most serious incident, with the highest number of victims, since the start of the crisis in April," she said.

"A serious, independent investigation is urgently needed to find out the exact circumstances in which these people were killed."

BBC Africa analyst Richard Hamilton said bodies on the streets were almost a daily occurrence in Bujumbura, but that this was the largest number of deaths in one night.

Violent clashes hit Burundi in April, a day after President Pierre Nkurunziza launched his bid for a third term in office.

Mr Nkurunziza was nominated to run by his governing CNDD-FDD party, a move opponents argued was unconstitutional.

According to the UN, at least 240 people have been killed and more than 200,000 have fled to neighbouring countries since April, raising fears of a civil war.


Source: BBC

 

[fattys]

Further actions should be taken as it is not enough to remove USA citizens only.

 

[LACK]

Kagame's thought! for sure he is the one behind of this!

 

[fattys]

Burundi's current crises is not a cause from external factors rather it is Burundian own causes. It starts after President Nkurunziza violated the country's constitution of changing some verses in order to allow him to run for third term consecutively. Burundian protested by it was in vain and at the end Nkurunziza came back to presidential post. The process was accompanied by civil riot and mass atrocities and killings. This was followed by fresh influx of Burundian refugees to her two neighbours Tanzania and Rwanda respectively. The refugees are divided into more or less ethnic groups, where majority of refugees who flee to Rwanda are Tutsi and into Tanzania being being Hutus. It is as if refugees in Rwanda have received sympathy and moral support. Underground news say that there are some training camps within refugee's camps. Historically Rwanda is renowned for her support to insurgents fighting neighbouring government. It might not true that Kagame is behind current insurgents sporadic attacks, but it is said from past experiences. Yet it is entirely upon the Buridian to come into their senses and resolve the current crises for the healthy and common cause for the nation. Nkurunziza please have compassion to your fellow countrymen.