Refugees slaughtered

Congo border, Burundi

At least 150 civilians were shot and hacked to death this week at a U.N. refugee camp in Burundi, close to the Congo border. The victims, Congolese Tutsis who fled the Congolese civil war that ended last year, were attacked as they slept. Witnesses said a gang of Burundian Hutus invaded the camp, shouting and beating drums, and killed everyone they saw. The Burundian Hutu rebel group that claimed responsibility said that Burundian soldiers and Congolese Tutsi militia had been hiding in the camp. Most of the bodies, though, were those of women and children. Burundi’s 10-year civil war ostensibly ended two years ago, with a cease-fire that included all rebel groups except the one that committed this week’s massacre.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up