8 killed, many injured in Burundi ambush

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) – At least eight people, including an army officer, were killed in an ambush on Sunday night in Burundi, the Ministry of Public Security said on Monday.

The incident took place in Muramvya town, 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of the political capital Gitega at around 7 p.m. local time (1700GMT), the ministry tweeted, adding the victims included Lt. Col. Onesphore Nizigiyimana and an employee of the Burundian central bank.

It was not immediately clear whether the attack, which reportedly left several other people injured and four vehicles torched, was orchestrated by the rebels fighting the government.

In a condolence message to the victims’ families on Twitter, Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye vowed “all the perpetrators will be apprehended to face justice”.

The ambush in Muramvya came less than a month after a similar attack by gunmen in Rusaka in Mwaro province of the East African country that left seven dead and three wounded.