International outcry after Burundian rights activist shot

2015-08-05, France24

The attempted killing of a leading Burundian human rights activist, shot in the face by a gunman, triggered international outrage and concern on Tuesday.

Pierre-Claver Mbonimpa, who publicly opposed President Pierre Nkurunziza’s controversial and successful bid for a third term last month, was shot as he made his way home from work in the capital on Monday by a gunman on a motorbike. “His condition is stable, and has even slightly improved,” a family member said on Tuesday.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned “the assassination attempt” and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. “This incident… is part of a growing pattern of politically-motivated violence in Burundi that must be broken before it escalates beyond control,” Ban’s spokesperson said in a statement.

Several diplomats, including from the United States and France, as well as African Union officials, were at Mbonimpa’s hospital bedside during the night until the arrival of the police. The shooting followed Sunday’s killing in a rocket attack of General Adolphe Nshimirimana, who was widely seen as the central African nation’s de-facto internal security chief.

The attacks come just over a week after Nkurunziza was declared the outright winner of a controversial presidential election, securing a third consecutive term despite opposition protests and international condemnation.

‘A disturbing escalation’

On Tuesday evening, shots could be heard in a neighbourhood of the capital Bujumbura where loyalties are split between Nkurunziza’s camp and the opposition. Ruling party CNDD-FDD spokesman Gelase-Daniel Ndabirabe meanwhile accused the opposition of carrying out a “plan of targeted assassination” against its loyalists, the day after the party’s local delegate in a commune east of Burundi was shot dead.

“He’s not the only one” killed, Ndabirabe said, accusing the opposition of waging “terrorism” — claims Nkurunziza’s opponents deny. Nkurunziza’s candidacy was condemned as unconstitutional by the opposition and provoked months of protests that left at least 100 people dead in a fierce government crackdown, as well as an attempted coup in mid-May.

AU Commission chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma condemned the attack and wished Mbonimpa “a speedy recovery”, while Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on the government to ensure his safety. “We are shocked at this blatant attack on one of Burundi’s most prominent and respected activists,” said HRW’s Africa chief Daniel Bekele. “The Burundian authorities should take immediate steps to secure Mbonimpa’s safety and protection.”

Amnesty International condemned the “brazen attack” it said was part of “a disturbing escalation” of violence. Dlamini-Zuma also called on the government to investigate the “attempted murder” as well as “all other such killings”, including the assassination on Sunday of Nshimirimana, a close aide to Nkurunziza.

In Brussels, the EU said the attack showed the security situation to be deteriorating sharply and called on the authorities to ensure Mbonimpa’s safety. “All sides in Burundi must show restraint and seek dialogue. Violence, from whatever quarter, will not help get the country out of the current political impasse,” the EU’s foreign affairs arm said in a statement.

The International Crisis Group (ICG) think tank said the attacks represented a dangerous escalation in violence, pushing Burundi to the brink of war. “There is a qualitative change in the violence,” said the ICG’s Thierry Vircoulon.

After Nshimirimana’s killing, prominent Burundian journalist Esdras Ndikumana — who works for Agence France-Presse (AFP) and Radio France Internationale (RFI) — was arrested and badly beaten.

The political crisis in Burundi has seen independent media outlets shuttered and many journalists flee the country or go into hiding because of threats and attacks.