Army major shot dead in eastern Burundi

By Nzosaba Jean Bosco and Yvan Rukundo

BUJUMBURA, Burundi

An army major was shot dead by another Burundian soldier Wednesday night in eastern Burundi, a military source told Anadolu Agency Thursday.

Col. Gaspard Baratuza, Burundian army spokesman, said: "Major Karashira was killed last night by another soldier during a night patrol; the perpetrator of this murder was arrested and is under interrogation."

The slain major was heading the intelligence services of the 22nd Battalion of Mutukura in Cankuzo province, eastern Burundi, the spokesman added.

The murder comes few days after a group of armed men attacked a military camp in Mukoni in Muyinga province, some 200 kilometers (124 miles) from the capital, Bujumbura, killing three people.

The violence since April 2015 has led to the deaths of close to 1,000 people and forced over 310,000 more to flee the country and seek refuge in neighboring states, according to a report last November by the International Federation of Human Rights.

The worst violence occurred on Dec. 11 when 87 people were killed in clashes in Bujumbura.