Violence rocks Burundi capital, stoking civil war fears
As the world turns its focus on the Syrian civil war and ISIS following the Parisian attacks, there are other nations and regions where scant attention is being paid in the western media. While it is certainly a tragedy what has happened in France and nations send their sympathies and aid, we must not forget that there are other conflicts still underway. There are many other nations where civil war is threatening to break out, leading to even further instability, which could, in turn lead to power vacuums waiting to be filled by extremist groups. One such place is the African nation of Burundi, which has been teetering on the brink of all out conflict for much of the year.
Another bout of violence struck the capital city of Bujumbura on November 15, killing at least four people and injuring many others. This is the latest in months of violence that began when President Pierre Nkurunziza defied the nation’s constitution and sought an additional term in office despite being term limited. This led to protests and even violence as the government attempted to quell the protests, even going so far as to restrict the media and civil rights of citizens.
The election went forward following alleged intimidation of the courts into siding with Nkurunziza, and he ended up winning the election handily, thanks to boycotts by opposition groups as well assuspected electoral shenanigans. That was hardly the end of the story as violence continued to break out following the vote, including apparent assassinations of opposition leaders.
Sunday’s violence seemed to be targeted toward police and government officials, with a police officer killed at his post and grenades lobbed at Bujumbura Mayor Freddy Mbonimpa’s house. Violent clashes occurred throughout the city and, frankly, it’s surprising that the confirmed death toll is so low at this point.
The United Nations met last week to discuss the possibility of sending some kind of peacekeeping force into the small nation, with an assessment due in the next couple of weeks. While it may be unlikely that a full scale force will go into the country, it seems that some international involvement may be required, at least in an advisory or mediation capacity, to avoid a full on ethnic clash and civil war–and even a possible genocide.
