Feruzi’s killing has caused many of Burundi’s opposition figures to go into hiding, following at least 20 deaths during four weeks of street protests

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Thousands of people in Burundi’s capital attended the funeral of an opposition leader killed in a drive-by shooting on Sunday.

Young people singing patriotic songs carried the coffin of politician Zedi Feruzi, stopping traffic as they marched for 90 minutes through Bujumbura, the capital, to a Muslim cemetery.

Feruzi and a body guard were killed on Saturday night in a drive-by shooting. Feruzi’s killing has caused many of Burundi’s opposition figures to go into hiding, saying that those who oppose President Pierre Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term are not safe.

Burundi has been rocked by four weeks of street protests, in which at least 20 have died, that started after it was announced Nkurunziza will stand for re-election on 26 June. The protests gave rise to an attempted coup on 13 May but military forces loyal to Nkurunziza put down the coup within 48 hours.

Opposition politicians, journalists and civic activists are hiding in Bujumbura because they do not feel safe after the killing of Feruzi, opposition figure Agathon Rwasa said.

“The life of anyone who opposes Pierre Nkurunziza is in danger,” said Rwasa. “People are being assassinated here and there.”

At least 100,000 Burundians have fled to neighbouring countries fearing political violence ahead of the elections.

Four independent radio stations and a TV station have been attacked with grenades and at least one has been completely destroyed, leaving the state-owned media as the only source of information for many Burundians who don’t live in the capital. Some journalists who witnessed the attacks say the perpetrators were government intelligence officials and police.

“I am deeply worried by the extremely tense situation in Burundi. We are receiving alarming messages from human rights defenders and journalists fearing for their safety. I urge the Burundian authorities to ensure their protection and to guarantee that there will be no unlawful reprisals following Wednesday’s failed coup,” Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, the UN high commissioner for human rights, said last week.