Bujumbura — Guards of high ranking officers of the national defence force should intervene whenever their neighbours are attacked." These were the words of the spokesman of the army, Colonel Manirakiza, after a gang of robbers killed a 15 year old boy in Kinama on Sunday.

Guards of an army officer living there did not intervene to protect the civilians. Punitive actions will be taken against this officer who refused to order his guards to help. Colonel Manirakiza indicates that â-šrefusing to assist a person in danger is crime."

After the creation of the National Defence Forces, many army officers who were formerly in the armed political movements have come to live in such places as Kinama and Kamenge.