Burundi Arrests Politician For Telling Supporters To Throw Opponents Into A Lake

Authorities in Burundi have arrested a ruling party official after he called on supporters to throw political opponents into a lake, a source has told Reuters news agency.

"We said that we have ordered boats. We will send them (opponents) into Lake Tanganyika," Melchiade Nzopfabarushe said in a video clip.

Mr Nzopfabarushe made the comments to party members in his home village near the capital Bujumbura in a rally on Sunday.

He was campaigning for a referendum on 17 May, when people will vote on whether to extend the president's term from five years to seven, which could potentially extend President Pierre Nkurunziza's rule to 2034.


The ruling party said on Twitter it rejected "any subversive message which may jeopardise unity and cohesion among the Burundian people".