In Burundi, after the shock, it’s time for questioning while twenty-six people were killed and seven others wounded in an attack on a hill in Buganda commune in the northwest of the country by an unidentified armed group that later retreated to the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.
On Saturday, May 12, the Minister of Security and number two of Burundian power, General Alain-Guillaume Bunyoni went on site with the main officials of the army and police where he promised that the government would collaborate with that of the DRC to annihilate those they call “terrorists”.
But there are still unanswered questions after this attack that targeted the province of Cibitoke, province of origin of several military leaders and police.
It is difficult to say for sure where these attackers came from, despite the assertions of the Minister of Public Security and No. 2 of the regime present on Saturday, May 12 on the spot.
General Alain-Guillaume Bunyoni assured that these “terrorists” came from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
This is another story that people from Ruhagarika are talking about an armed group that seemed to come from the interior of the country. But everyone agrees that they then retreated to the DRC.
Another question, the attackers seemed to know well this village and they would have targeted specific households. In particular, the families of four policemen, from the former rebellion in power today. One of them lost at least 12 relatives. His parents, his brothers, their wives and children were brutally slaughtered. Some were stabbed, others slaughtered or burned on mattresses sprinkled with gasoline, according to neighbours that still in shock.
But this state of shock has given way to anger in the aftermath of this carnage. Burundian authorities have deployed reinforcements in this border area of the DRC, fearing an attack to “disrupt” the constitutional referendum scheduled in four days, which should allow President Pierre Nkurunziza to remain in power until 2034.
The inhabitants of this village felt protected because Burundian soldiers have a position at least 200 meters from the houses attacked and they do not understand why these soldiers have never intervened during the fifteen minutes that this attack have lasted.
