Highlights:
Burundian security forces discovered the first mass grave following a probe supported by the UN in February. The grave is said to contain at least 30 bodies according to the security forces on sight with most of the bodies belonging to Imbonerakure youths (the youth wing of the ruling party).
Summary:
Human right activists in Burundi have expressed fears of the possibility of numerous mass graves in which youths presumed missing have been buried. Following their reports, the UN supported a probe in finding the mass graves in mid-February 2016 with the help of satellite images that collaborated the same.
On February 29th, Burundian security officers discovered the first of the mass graves in which at least 30 corpses were recovered in Mutakura-a Bujumbura neighborhood that is known for hosting the insurgents. It also indicated that the youths were killed and dumped in bags in the graves.
Preliminary reports indicate that the bodies recovered in the mass grave are those of the Imbonerakure youths who supported Nkurunziza’s third term bid. The Imbonerakure youth is the youth wing of the ruling party in Burundi.
The discovery of the mass grave is said to have been joint efforts between security forces, an ex-insurgent who recently surrendered to the government as well as the general public of the area.
The discovery of the mass grave is also the first step by the security forces to redeem themselves of accusations of conducting extra-judicial killings of presumed missing youth in their hands.
Burundi has seen frequent violence since President Pierre Nkurunziza announced the controversial decision in April 2015 to run for a third term. He eventually won the election in July.
