Heavy gunfire and shelling rock Bujumbura

Heavy gunfire and shelling rocked Burundi’s capital Bujumbura for the first time since last month’s controversial swearing-in of President Pierre Nkurunziza.

Police were Wednesday morning yet to comment on the overnight shelling and shooting.

However, a Musaga suburb resident said one person was killed during the shootings between the police and the unknown armed group.

Some armed civilians were arrested but the government said the unknown armed group has no political agenda.

“Some were arrested and some weapons confiscated. These armed groups who launch attacks don’t have an agenda because even the opposition political leaders don’t recognise them,” Deputy Police Spokesman Pierre Nkurikiye said.

VICTIMS OF ATTACKS

Both the Opposition and the government have been victims of the attacks that Bujumbura has experienced in the recent past.

Burundi held a controversial presidential election on July 21 that saw the incumbent, President Pierre Nkurunziza, win a third term.

The poll victory was the culmination of a long-drawn dispute over Mr Nkurunziza's eligibility for a third term.

His nomination by the ruling CNDD-FDD party to vie for another term was viewed as unconstitutional and going against the Arusha Accord that ended Burundi's protracted civil war.

He nevertheless defied numerous odds, including a coup bid, to contest and win himself a third term in office.

Burundi has experienced relative calm since the president's latest swearing-in, a period that has been marked by several targeted killings.

NKURUNZIZA PRAYING

The security agencies continue cordoning off areas and searching for firearms in the wrong hands.

President Nkurunziza has retreated to his hometown of Ngozi reportedly to pray and thank God.

The president, in his first address to the public after taking the oath of office, promised Burundians and the international community that he would restore peace and stability within two months.

"Within two months, Burundi should be peaceful and all ongoing targeted killings and all sorts acts aimed at causing instability in the country will be put to an end,'' he said.

"We are going to increase security units that will operate for 24 hours in order to ensure peace and stability are restored in the country,” he added.

He warned the perpetrators of violence of dire consequences for their actions.

STEP DOWN

"We call upon those opposed to the government, either inside or outside the country, to refrain from acts of violence or face serious consequences. Politicians should play with politics but not with the lives of the citizens,” he said after taking the oath.

The Burundi opposition union operating outside the country has called on President Nkurunziza to step down because his leadership is illegitimate.

Several people have been arrested in Bujumbura on suspicion that they were coordinating the activities of the yet to be named armed group.

A recent Amnesty International report indicated that protesters against President Nkurunziza’s third term were being tortured by the country’s intelligence service and the police to extract confessions.

The report indicated that both the National Intelligence Service and the police were responsible for torture and other ill treatment against detainees arrested since April 2015 for their suspected participation in protests against Mr Nkurunziza’s bid.

DISMISSED CLAIMS

“The Burundian government must take urgent actions to ensure accountability and reparations for acts of torture and other ill-treatment by security officers and to prevent further violation,” said Ms Sarah Jackson, the East and Horn of Africa deputy Regional Director of Amnesty International.

Ms Jackson said that the international community must urge Bujumbura to abide by its regional and international human rights human rights obligations.

But the police have dismissed the allegations as unfounded.

“Those are false allegations," said Mr Nkurikiye.

"The police have not carried out any torture and the Amnesty International did not consult us over those allegations," said the deputy police spokesman.