Mass Grave Discovered In Burundi Capital

Burundian security forces  has on Monday afternoon discovered a mass grave containing at least 30 corpses, authorities said.

The grave which is located in Mutakura, one of Bujumbura's neighborhoods known for hosting insurgents, and the bodies were victims who supported a third term for the Burundian president, Bujumbura Mayor Freddy Mbonimpa told reporters.

Burundi has seen frequent violence since President Pierre Nkurunziza announced the controversial decision last April to run for a third term. He eventually won the election in July.

"This mass grave has been discovered thanks to the collaboration of the public and one of the ex-insurgents who recently surrendered to the security forces," the mayor said.

"The criminals who are under arrest told us that no fewer than 30 people could have been buried in the grave, one of them said he had himself buried three people in a sack,'' Nzeyimana said on Thursday.

The mayor said regarding the date of the death of victims in the mass grave, it could be around April, at the start of protests against a third term bid by President Pierre Nkurunziza.

He said that investigations would be launched to identify those killed, but affirmed that it could be youth group affiliated to the ruling party, popularly known as "Imbonerakure".

The discovery of the mass grave coincided with Monday's arrival in Bujumbura of three UN independent experts charged with the responsibility of investigating human rights violations in Burundi.

Report says the experts will be in the country until March 8. (Xinhua/NAN)

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