Many flee Burundi as violence escalates

Many people have been fleeing parts of Burundi's capital that have seen anti-government protests

Many flee Burundi as violence escalates

Daily Graphic Africa Nov - 16 - 2015 , 04:16

Belgium has advised its citizens to leave Burundi, and the EU is cutting staff levels in the country because of the "rising risk of violence".

Belgium says those among about 500 Belgians in the country "whose presence is not essential" should leave.

The EU says it will evacuate temporarily its employees' "families and part of the non-essential staff".

The cycle of violence began with protests against President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for a third term.

At least 240 people have been killed there since the demonstrations began in April.

There are fears of a Rwandan-style genocide in Burundi, which also has a history of tensions between Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups.

In a statement last Friday, the Belgian foreign ministry said, "We advise Belgians who are currently in Burundi and whose presence is not essential to leave the country as soon as normal measures allow."

Meanwhile, the EU ambassador to Burundi, Patrick Spirlet, told Reuters that the "rising risk of violence" had prompted the EU mission in the capital Bujumbura to reduce some staff.

However, he stressed that "the delegation will continue functioning normally".

These measures come a day after the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution strongly condemning the escalating violence.

The French-drafted resolution also paves the way for a possible deployment of blue-helmeted UN peacekeepers.

It requests that Secretary General Ban Ki-moon reports within 15 days on options for increasing the UN presence in the impoverished African country.

A BBC report says UN officials are considering a number of alternatives, including rushing in peacekeepers currently deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo.