Burundi Government: Gunmen Kill at Least 20 in the West of the Country

Burundi government spokesman, Jerome Niyonzima, informed reporters on Saturday that "gunmen killed at least 20 people and injured nine others near the country's western border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo." He clarified that "12 children, two pregnant women, and a police officer are among the dead in the attack that occurred last night in the village of Fugizo." The rebel group RED Tabara posted on the social media platform X that it killed nine soldiers and a police officer. RED Tabara has been fighting the Burundian government from bases in eastern Congo since 2015. Residents in the area reported hearing gunfire and explosions during the attack. RED Tabara previously stated that it attacked and destroyed equipment at the international airport in Bujumbura in September, but there were no reports of casualties.