Burundi Opposition Leader Arrested, Says Family

by Naharnet Newsdesk 09 March 2016, 16:42

Police in Burundi have arrested one of the last opposition leaders not to have fled the troubled country, his family and supporters said Wednesday.

Hugo Haramategeko, 47, president of the small Nadebu party, the New Alliance for the Development of Burundi, was arrested as he took a shower at home in the capital Bujumbura in a dawn raid by police, a family member said. The police could not be immediately contacted for comment.

"The police arrested him shortly after 6:00 am as he was taking a shower, and did not even give him time to get dressed properly," said Charles Nditije from the opposition UPRONA party, criticising his "arbitrary arrest."

Burundi's political crisis was triggered by President Pierre Nkurunziza's controversial decision last April to run for a third term, which he won in an election in July.

Since then violence has become routine, with hundreds killed and nearly quarter of a million fleeing the country.

Source: Agence France Presse

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