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Danes advised to leave Burundi due to escalated violence
Lucie Rychla
December 17th, 2015
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This article is more than 9 years old.
Security situation in the African country has significantly worsened, with riots and shootings across the country
Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi, has experienced shootings almost every day since the president was re-elected (photo: Stefan Krasowski)
The Foreign Ministry has called on all Danes currently residing in Burundi to consider leaving the country due to escalated violence, reports Jyllands-Posten.
Bloody riots in the central African country have significantly worsened since October, and during the past weekend 90 people lost their lives in the capital Bujumbura.
Although Denmark has no embassy in the country, the Foreign Ministry closely monitors the situation in the country in co-operation with the Belgian embassy in Bujumbura.
“Belgium and several other countries are advising against all trips to Burundi and have called on their citizens to leave the country via commercial flights while it is still possible,” stated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Unconstitutional presidential elections
The violence in Burundi broke out in April when President Pierre Nkurunziza announced he would run for office for a third time.
Despite criticism from the opposition that this was unconstitutional, Nkurunziza was re-elected for another five-year term in July.
Since the election, there have been almost daily shootings in the capital, but the violence has now spread to other parts of the country.
Some 210,000 people have fled the country since March.
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