A Burundi human rights activist, Pierre Claver Mbonimpa, was shot and severely wounded by motorcyclists while in his vehicle on Aug. 3. Mbonimpa is the head of the Association for the Protection of Human Rights and Detained Persons [4] (APRODH) and he was a very vocal opponent of President Pierre Nkurunziza [5]'s bid for a third term. Mbonimpa's shooting [4] comes just one day after Gen. Adolphe Nshimirimana and his bodyguards were killed in a drive-by shooting [6]. [Nshimirimana was a security advisor and close ally [7] of President Nkurunziza.]
The unrest in Burundi intensified in May after the Constitutional Court ruled that President Pierre Nkurunziza could seek a third term in office without violating the country's constitution, which states that presidents shall be universally elected into office for a term of five years and can renew the term once. Those opposing Nkurunziza's bid for a third presidential term claim that both the constitution and the Arusha peace deal (PDF [8]) that ended the 2005 civil war state that no one should be president for more than 10 years. Those backing Nkurunziza claim that this did not apply to him since he was not voted in for his first term but selected by lawmakers. Prior to the July election, in which Nkurunziza won a third term [9], citizens in Burundi's capital protested in opposition with explosions and gunfire.
From Jurist [10], Aug. 4. Used with permission.
