Mayor tightens security following killings in Kamenge

At least two people were killed and a dozen injured in attacks by unknown armed men in Kamenge neighborhood in the capital Bujumbura over two weeks. The Bujumbura city mayor has taken measures to secure the area.

Kamenge neighbors come to mourn at the victim’s home

On 4 May around 8 am, a father of three children, Jean Claude Bararufise, 38, was walking home from his job as a parking attendant at “Gare du Nord”, Noella Bankundiye, Bararufise’s sister told Iwacu. He was crossing Mirango in Kamenge, walking along the quiet 6th avenue when men armed with a pistol attacked. Nadine Tumberayezu, another woman at the scene was injured in the shooting.

Bararufise was one of two people killed and a dozen injured in recent weeks. Following the attacks, the major has imposed a number of security measures. “No more motorcycles moving around the neighborhood beyond 6 p.m., and all movie rooms must be closed completely”, said Freddy Mbonimpa, the Mayor of Bujumbura.

He spoke on 5 May at a security meeting in Kamenge. He says the troublemakers either ride on motorcycles or hide in movie rooms, small, independent movie theatres. Others at the security meeting, which included the security forces and the administrative officials of Ntahangwa Commune in Bujumbura, said the causes of the security disruption include impunity, prohibited drinks and impunity among administrative officials.

Frida Maniragaba, in her 30’s, the wife of Bararufise, says that she is ignoring the official reason for her husband’s killing. “I was at home when I learnt that my husband was killed. I have nothing to ask of the justice or the police because all investigations to date have conducted resulted in nothing”, she said, in tears.

Last week, a second individual was killed and five others injured in a grenade explosion in the same neighborhood. The victims of that attack were from the same family. Bonfort Ndoreraho, the municipal police commissioner says the perpetrators are still unidentified.

During the 2015 demonstrations against Nkurunziza’s third controversial term in office, Kamenge remained calm. In 1993, however, Kamenge was considered the birthplace of the rebellion and many residents were driven out by mass killings after the assassination in October 1993 of Melchior Ndadaye, the first Hutu president who was elected in the first free polls.