Africa

Burundi: Victims of the rebel attack buried amid tears

A woman paying her last tribute - Copyright © africanews cleared

Emotions ran high on Tuesday as 19 people killed in an attack last Friday in Gatumba, Mutimbuzi commune, Bujumbura province, on the Burundi-Congolese border, were laid to rest.

In the presence of the authorities, including the Minister of the Interior, Community Development and Public Security, deputies and senators, and the victims’ families, coffins containing the bodies of the victims arrived at the Gatumba Catholic parish in military and police vehicles.

- Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading. -

A final tribute was paid. A large crowd had come to bid farewell to their parents, children and wives, who had been killed by gunmen on the night of December 22, 2023. Jostling to see the bodies of their deceased loved ones, many could not hold back their tears.

Afterwards, a requiem mass was held under the aegis of Monsignor Anatole Ruberinyange who stressed that “killing people” is by no means a solution to problems. Only dialogue can resolve conflicts.

“In any conflict, the answer is not to shed blood or take up arms. Killing is not a solution to problems. On the contrary, killers reap the curse” the prelate told the congregants the mass.

- Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading. -

The attack in the locality of Vugizo claimed 19 civilian victims and one policeman, according to the Burundian government. It was claimed by the rebel group RED-Tabara (Resistance for the Rule of Law in Burundi) that has been battling Burundi’s government from bases in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since 2015.

It is the second attack in two weeks by the RED-Tabara rebels, who have been largely inactive inside Burundi since 2021.

In a press release issued on Saturday, December 23, the government condemned the attack as a despicable and barbaric act of terrorism.

Source: africanews

- Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading. -


Do you have a story or an opinion to share? Email us on: dailyexpressug@gmail.com Or join the Daily Express WhatsApp channel for all the latest news and trends or join the Telegram Channel for the latest updates.

Daily Express is Uganda's number one source for breaking news, National news, policy analytical stories, e-buzz, sports, and general news.

We resent fake stories in all our published stories, and are driven by our tagline of being Accurate, Fast & Reliable.

Copyright © 2024 Daily Express Uganda. A Subsidiary of Rabiu Express Media Group Ltd.

To Top
Translate »