On Monday, May 5, tensions escalated in Kabo village, Muyange zone, Nyanza-Lac commune, southern Burundi. Members of the Imbonerakure, the youth wing of the ruling CNDD-FDD party, obstructed police officers attempting to arrest Benjamin Niyoyankunze, suspected of participating in a violent attack against opposition member Jonas Niyomwungere.
The assault occurred during the night of Friday, May 2, when Niyomwungere, affiliated with the Sahwanya-FRODEBU party and the opposition coalition Burundi bwa Bose, was attacked with machetes and stones. Family members reported that he suffered severe injuries, including a severed leg, and was left for dead.
When police arrived to apprehend Niyoyankunze, numerous Imbonerakure members surrounded the officers, shouting and creating a commotion. A local resident stated, “The police were nearly disarmed. They had to retreat to avoid bloodshed.”
As of now, authorities from Makamba Province and the national government have not issued any statements regarding the incident. The current condition of Jonas Niyomwungere remains unknown.
