Assassination Unsettles Burundi

Washington

In response to the assassination of General Adolphe Nshimirimana in Burundi on Aug. 2, Freedom House issued the following statement:

"We are alarmed by the trend of targeted assassinations in Burundi," said Maïté Hostetter, senior Africa program officer.  "These developments in no way justify a further government crackdown on freedom of assembly and expression -- and should not overshadow broader concerns about the credibility of recent elections.” 

Background: 
General Adolphe Nshimirimana was widely viewed as second in authority to President Pierre Nkurunziza. Since April 26, when Nkurunziza announced his decision to seek a third term, most independent media houses in Burundi have been forcibly shut down, over 100 people have been killed and more than 175,000 people have fled. 

Burundi is rated Not Free in Freedom in the World 2015, and Not Free in Freedom of the Press 2015.