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The arrest warrant for Sinduhije concerns attacks, including grenade explosions and ambushes, which have left dozens dead and several injured since the start of 2020.
Burundi has issued an international arrest warrant against exiled opposition politician Alexis Sinduhije, accusing him of leading a group responsible for multiple “terrorist acts”.
The announcement, made Wednesday evening by the country’s Attorney General Sylvestre Nyandwi, follows a series of attacks in the troubled East African country in recent days, which have left at least six dead and more than 100 injured.
However, the warrant covered previous attacks, including grenade explosions and ambushes that have left dozens dead and several injured since the start of 2020, Nyandwi said.
“The investigations already carried out have revealed that these acts are committed by a band of terrorists led by… Alexis Sinduhije”, declared the Attorney General.
“Under national and international law, these acts constitute acts of terrorism, as well as crimes against humanity. “
Sinduhije, the president of the Opposition Movement for Solidarity and Development (MSD), lives in exile in Belgium.
Sinduhije is believed to be behind several past attacks in Burundi [File: Clovis Guy Siboniyo/Reuters]RED-Tabara accused of violence
He has long been suspected by the Burundian government of being the head of RED-Tabara, the most active rebel group in the country – a claim it has consistently denied.
The group emerged 10 years ago and is accused of being behind many deadly attacks or ambushes in Burundi since 2015.
RED-Tabara has a rear base in South Kivu in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo and its number is estimated to be between 500 and 800.
Last year, the group said it was behind a series of attacks that left more than 40 dead among the security forces and the youth league of the ruling CNDD-FDD party.
He claimed responsibility for a series of mortar explosions targeting the airport in Burundi’s financial capital, Bujumbura, on Saturday evening.
No damage or casualties occurred.
Deadly grenade attacks also hit the capital Gitega on Sunday evening and Bujumbura on Monday evening. The group has not commented on these.
The attorney general said the explosions were “linked” to previous attacks Sinduhije is accused of having committed. He did not provide further details.
On Thursday, the MSD said it rejected “baseless accusations of a government unable to ensure the safety of its citizens.”
“Neither our leaders nor our members are oriented towards violence against our fellow citizens,” he added.
In addition to Sinduhije, arrest warrants have also been issued against François Nyamoya, secretary general of the MSD based in Rwanda, and Marguerite Brankitse, founder of the Maison Shalom home for orphans, who lives between Rwanda and Europe.
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