Burundi Military Kills 31 Rebels
KABUL: (Middle East Press) 31 gunmen were killed and 171 others captured by Burundi’s military forces following clashes in north of the East African country, a spokesperson for Burundi’s military said.
The clashes took place late last week in Kayanza province said Colonel Gaspard Baratuza adding that six soldiers were wounded in the fighting and that nearly 80 assorted weapons were seized.
Canesius Ndayimanisha, governor of northern Kayanza province, said suspected rebels carried out two attacks inside Burundian territory on Friday after entering the country through the dense Nyungwe forest on the Rwanda border.
The development came as local observers reportedly consider the battle as a precursor to an emerging insurgency in the impoverished nation by a section of the army that backed a failed coup attempt against President Pierre Nkurunziza back in May.
The developments came after Nkurunziza announced on Saturday the postponement of the country’s upcoming presidential elections from July 15 to July 21 under apparent international pressure to put them off as long as violent protest rallies against his controversial bid to seek a third term in office persist.
