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Amnesty International has accused Burundi’s security forces of killing dozens of people during a violent repression that took place in the capital, Bujumbura, on December 11.
It said that some of the scores of people who died during the single bloodiest day of Burundi’s “escalating crisis” were killed extra-judicially.
At least 87 people were killed, including eight security force members.
The government has not yet responded to the Amnesty report.
But it said soon after the violence, those killed were responsible for attacks on government installations.
Amnesty also said that its report was compiled after a two-week fact-finding mission to the country.
Most of those killed on December 11 were residents of districts mostly inhabited by members of the minority Tutsi ethnic group, it said.
“They are considered by the authorities to be pro-opposition areas, as the protests that began in April against President Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term in office started in these neighbourhoods.”
It said that since the beginning of the protests in April, residents of Bujumbura have become accustomed to near-daily reports of corpses being found in the streets.
While the government faces “an extremely challenging security situation”, including armed attacks on the security forces, “it must confront these challenges in a manner consistent with human rights and the rule of law.
“Ending the absolute impunity that the security forces currently enjoy is an essential first step”, Amnesty said.
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