12 February 2008
Bujumbura — The police caught eight firearms and seven grenades in a roundup operation that was carried out in Ngagara commune today. The roundup took place in the quarter of Ngagara Two. This roundup, which also targeted retired army officers, comes as pat of the plan that the security minister devised in order to combat the growing trend of criminality.
Independent sources say that more than 300,000 small weapons are illegally owned in Burundi. The commission that was setup in 2006 in order to disarm the population has not shown any results. Recently, with the resumption of hostilities between the PALIPEHUTU-FNL and the government, the National Intelligence Services rearmed their informants.
In January, the security minister, Police commissioner Alain Guillaume Bunyoni, publicized measures to be taken in order to address the situation. His plan includes police roundups and full time protection of some locations including bridges and main roads. These measures have not quashed the trend of violence, although there seems to be limited improvements in the city of Bujumbura.
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