People flee Burundi's capital anticipating fresh clashes

BUJUMBURA, Burundi

As President Pierre Nkurunziza’s five-day ultimatum to surrender illegal weapons comes to an end Friday night, civilians begin to flee the capital Bujumbura, fearing a new wave of repression at the hands of state security forces.

Since a controversial presidential poll was held in July, Burundi has witnessed a spate of violent attacks on both government officials and opposition figures, sparking fears of wider political conflict.

On Monday, Nkurunziza declared a five-day ultimatum and warned of strict police action if civilians did not surrender their illegal weapons. He warned the opposition to lay down arms to restore calm in the country where violence in the past six months had left an estimated more than 200 people dead.

The situation in the country became worse since last weekend when Nkurunziza's supporters and opponents renewed attacks on each other. Many Burundians were fleeing the country’s capital of Bujumbura amid the ongoing protests against Nkurunziza.

Patrick, a young man who lives in Bujumbura, feared "the worst", saying he would wait-and-see how the situation would evolve.

Joseph, another young man who lives in southern Musaga district, said that he decided to leave his hometown and take refuge in some other town.

Many civilians fear more violence with the end of the ultimatum on Friday night. The main protest areas located in the capital Bujumbura began to empty Thursday. Women and their children, with some carrying mattresses, canvas bags and other household equipment, could be seen moving to safer neighborhoods.

However, Pierre Nkurikiye, police spokesman, said via phone that he was unaware of any such internal displacements of people.

According to local activists, at least four bodies were found Thursday night after escalation of conflicts between opposition and country’s security officials.

Ambassador Samantha Power, U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations and U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Burundi, in a statement on Thursday night also expressed concern.

“The United States is alarmed by the escalating violence in Burundi and dangerous, irresponsible rhetoric on the part of the government, loyalist militias, violent anti-government forces and criminal elements. The United States will support the region and our partners in the international community so that those who commit or incite violence are held accountable,” Power said.

Separately, French Philippe Bertoux, political coordinator for France's U.N. mission, called for an urgent UN Security Council meeting over the Burundi situation via his official Twitter account Thursday.

Only one week after Nkurunziza won a third term in office on July 24, 2015, Gen. Adolphe Nshimirimana, the country’s powerful spy chief and a Nkurunziza ally, was killed in the capital.

Also, in mid-August, Col. Jean Bikomagu, a former army chief-of-staff, was killed in his home by unidentified attackers.

According to a local nongovernmental organization, at least 200 people, mostly opposition politicians but also Nkurunziza supporters, have been killed amid political turbulence in the country that began in April when Nkurunziza announced plans to run for a third presidential term.

Burundi’s current army was drawn up from former rebel fighters after the 2005 Arusha peace accords ended a years-long civil war that left more than 300,000 people dead.