Ban condemns assassination of Burundi’s ex-minister

The United Nations (U.S.) Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, has condemned the Wednesday’s assassination of Burundi’s former minister for East African Community (EAC) Affairs, Hafsa Mossi and further reiterated the need to intensify efforts to find a negotiated settlement to the crisis in Burundi.

He further called on all parties concerned to engage fully and in good faith in the peace process led by the East African community.

“This despicable act of violence only serves to promote divisions, entrench mistrust, and destabilise the country,” said a statement issued yesterday by Mr. Ban’s spokesperson. The UN chief extended his deepest condolences to Mossi’s family.

This despicable act of violence only serves to promote divisions, entrench mistrust, and destabilise the country.
Mossi, a member of the ruling CNDD-FDD party and a lawmaker in the regional East African Legislative Assembly, “was shot dead by two criminals on board a car as she was leaving her home” in Mutanga district, east of the capital, police spokesman said.

Amnesty International has also called for an independent inquiry into Mossi’s assassination. They said that her murder must be promptly, independently and impartially investigated, and those reasonably suspected of responsibility held to account in fair trials.

She was laid to rest on Wednesday amid condemnations from her family and friends.

Mossi is the second major political figure to be killed since the beginning of Burundi’s political crisis.