The attempted murder of a leading Burundian human rights activist has triggered international outrage and concern.
Pierre Claver Mbonimpa, who publicly opposed President Pierre Nkurunziza’s controversial and successful attempt for a third term in office last month, was shot in the face as he made his way home from work in the capital, Bujumbura, on Monday by a gunman on a motorbike.
“His condition is stable, and has even slightly improved,” a family member said on Tuesday.
The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, condemned “the assassination attempt” and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
“This incident … is part of a growing pattern of politically motivated violence in Burundi that must be broken before it escalates beyond control,” Ban’s spokesperson said.
Several diplomats, including from the US and France, as well as African Union officials, were at Mbonimpa’s hospital bedside during the night until the arrival of the police.
The shooting followed the death of Gen Adolphe Nshimirimana in a rocket attack on Sunday. Nshimirimana was widely seen as the central African country’s de facto internal security chief.
The attacks come just over a week after Nkurunziza was declared the outright winner of a controversial presidential election, securing a third consecutive term despite opposition protests and international condemnation.
His candidacy was condemned as unconstitutional by the opposition and provoked months of protests that left at least 100 people dead in a fierce government crackdown, as well as an attempted coup in mid-May.
AU chair, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, condemned the attack and wished Mbonimpa “a speedy recovery”, while Human Rights Watch called on Burundi’s government to ensure his safety.
“We are shocked at this blatant attack on one of Burundi’s most prominent and respected activists,” said HRW’s Africa chief, Daniel Bekele. “The Burundian authorities should take immediate steps to secure Mbonimpa’s safety and protection.”
Amnesty International condemned the “brazen attack” and said it was part of “a disturbing escalation” of violence.
Dlamini-Zuma also called on the government to investigate the “attempted murder” as well as “all other such killings”, including the assassination of Nshimirimana, a close aide to Nkurunziza.
In Brussels, the EU said the attack showed the security situation to be deteriorating sharply and called on the authorities to ensure Mbonimpa’s safety.
“All sides in Burundi must show restraint and seek dialogue. Violence, from whatever quarter, will not help get the country out of the current political impasse,” the EU’s foreign affairs arm said in a statement.
The International Crisis Group thinktank said the attacks represented a dangerous escalation in violence, pushing Burundi to the brink of war.
“There is a qualitative change in the violence,” said the ICG’s Thierry Vircoulon.
After Nshimirimana’s killing, prominent Burundian journalist Esdras Ndikumana – who works for AFP and Radio France Internationale – was badly beaten.
The political crisis in Burundi has seen independent media outlets shuttered and many journalists flee the country or go into hiding because of threats and attacks.