Condemning deadly attack near Burundian capital, Secretary-General calls for restraint

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned the armed attack that took place yesterday near Burundi’s capital that killed and injured scores of people, and called on all parties to exercise restraint.

At least 36 people have been killed in the attack in which unidentified gunmen opened fire at a crowded bar near Bujumbura, according to media reports.

“He notes that this senseless attack comes at a time when Burundi is trying to consolidate recent gains in peace and stability following decades of civil war,” Mr. Ban’s spokesperson said in a statement.

“The Secretary-General conveys his deepest condolences to the families of the victims. He hopes that the perpetrators of these crimes will be brought to justice promptly and calls on all parties to exercise restraint.”

The UN has an office in Burundi (BNUB) to help the Central African country as it continues on the path towards recovery from decades of civil war and ethnic fighting. In a report issued last December, Mr. Ban noted that the security situation in the country, although relatively stable over 2010, remains a concern, with a high incidence of criminal activities such as armed robbery, killings and sexual violence, as well as “a significant increase in human rights violations.”