Dozens of weapons have reportedly been recovered including guns, grenades and ammunition in Burundi.  (SABC)

Security forces in Burundi are conducting door to door searches to confiscate illegal firearms in an effort to end a spate of violence in the country.

The country’s National Security Minister says they want to bring an end to this chaotic situation.

Burundi has seen at least 200 people killed and thousands have left the country since President Pierre Nkurunziza announced he would seek a third term in office which he won in July’s elections.

“We have a message to the people of Burundi and those who have left that the city is now secure and security forces will not rest until the peace returns to the country,” says National Security Minister, Alain Guillome.

An assurance opposition parties have dismissed as fruitless. They’ve voiced fears of targeted killings by government forces.

The President has said those who refuse to give up arms will be dealt with as enemies of the nation.

And there are concerns about just how aggressively authorities may implement their crackdown on firearms.

While some people have fled their homes others have no choice but to stay put.

“We didn’t have anywhere to go, some people left because of fear. So I just decide to stay here, whatever happens I will leave it up to God.”

The government insists it will deal with those armed and shooting at the army.

“Those people who have been giving you sleepless nights, we will not spare them. We will deal with them in the best way we know how,” says Guillome.

Dozens of weapons have reportedly been recovered including guns, grenades and ammunition.

The United Nation (UN) has condemned this act saying it may incite violence.

UN spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, says: “The secretary general underlines the responsibility of the Burundian authorities to protect the civilian population regardless of political affiliation and to ensure that the widespread impunity for these heinous acts is brought to an immediate end.”

There is growing concern by regional and world leaders that the situation in Burundi may become a repeat of ethnic violence that end in genocide in the neighbouring Rwanda in 1994