A pistol tucked in a trouser/FILE
Burundi descended into violence in April after President Pierre Nkurunziza launched his now successful bid for a third consecutive term in office, despite concerns over the legality of such a move.
Late Sunday, insurgents opened fire on the bar in the capital Bujumbura, killing the officer and wounding Damascus Hakizimana, husband of the first Vice President of the Senate, Spes-Njebarikanuye Caritas, a powerful ruling party member.
“Major Salvator Katihabwa died on the spot and two people were injured, including the owner of the bar,” said Moise Nkurunziza, a police spokesman, adding that Hakizimana was in a “critical condition.”
Burundi’s government blames a string of attacks on “armed criminals”, but the UN has warned that Burundi risks sliding back into civil war after a dramatic rise in violence.
Armed clashes between gunmen and security forces are a near daily event. Burundi is still scarred by memories of its 1993-2006 civil war pitting rebels from the Hutu majority against an army dominated by minority Tutsis.
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