AFRICA/BURUNDI - "Our only hope is an intervention on behalf of the international community"

Friday, 29 January 2016 area crisis  

Bujumbura (Agenzia Fides) - "The satellite images confirm what the people of Burundi are finding out on their own" local sources from Burundi told Agenzia Fides, where at least a dozen mass graves containing the bodies of opponents of President Pierre Nkurunziza, killed in extrajudicial executions have been discovered. Amnesty International says there are satellite images showing the presence of the earth removed in the area of Buringa, near the capital Bujumbura, compatible to reports by witnesses about the existence of mass graves in the area.
"Violence continues not only on behalf of security forces but also by at least two rebel groups that have turned up on the national scene, claiming also ambushes and assassinations. A few days ago the director general of the Ministry of Education was killed in an ambush", refer our sources, asking for anonymity for security reasons.
The government of Burundi appears to be increasingly isolated on the international stage because of its actions that also affect foreign citizens and representatives operating in the Country. A French and a British journalist were detained during a military operation that resulted in the arrest of 17 people.
"Representatives of the UN Security Council who met with President Nkurunziza a few days ago, did not receive a warm reception from the local authorities, who do not accept independent audits on the humanitarian situation and on the respect for human rights in the Country", underline our sources. The crisis in Burundi is the focus of the meeting of the Heads of State of the African Union which is being held in Addis Ababa these days.
"We await the decision of the African Union with trepidation, whether or not to send an African force for peace in our Country. The government and the ruling party unfortunately do not accept real dialogue that is inclusive of all the national political forces. The dialogue initiated by the President does not make sense, because only representatives of the ruling party and those of smaller parties were invited. Now our only hope is the decisive action of the international community", concludes Fides sources. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 29/01/2016)


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