Burundi has accused neighbouring Rwanda of being behind a failed assassination attempt on a top aide of President Pierre Nkurunziza. Police spokesman Pierre Nkurukiye said instructions were sent from Rwanda to plotters in the Burundian military to kill Willy Nyamitwe.
A Burundian colonel and two corporals had been arrested, he added. Rwanda has not yet commented on the allegation. It has denied similar allegations in the past. Relations between the two states have deteriorated over the last year. Burundi accuses Rwanda of hosting army officers who plotted a coup against Mr Nkurunziza in May 2015 after he announced he was running for a third presidential term.
More than 500 people have died and at least 270,000 have fled the conflict in Burundi. The attack on Mr Nyamitwe, Mr Nkurunziza’s media adviser and chief spokesman, happened near his home in the Kajaga area outside the capital, Bujumbura, on Monday evening, officials said.
One of his bodyguards was killed and another injured, while Mr Nyamitwe was slightly wounded on his arm.
One of the corporals was arrested in Kajaga, Mr Nkurukiye said.
In July, a Burundian MP in the East African parliament, Hafsa Mossi, was gunned down in Bujumbura in an attack the government said was directed by Rwanda.
In a tweet in French, Mr Nyamitwe said he was “doing well” but was mourning the death of his bodyguard. FULL STORY
