Kidnappers demand ransom for humanitarian workers

Kidnappers of three humanitarian workers in Burundi's southern Makamba Province have demanded a ransom for their release, international NGO Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), employer of one of the workers, reported on Thursday. "It is at this point unknown who carried out the kidnapping," NRC said. It its statement, NRC said the kidnapped employee was a secretary in one of its offices. The employee was kidnapped together with another German Technical Cooperation aid worker when their car was attacked on 12 July. NRC said an employee of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) was also kidnapped in Makamba in a separate incident. Regarding the ransom demand, NRC said all the involved organisations had rejected it "as a matter of principle, in fear of the long-term consequences". The NGO said about 40,000 people were displaced between 7 and 13 July due to fighting between rebel and government troops in the southern suburbs of the capital, Bujumbura. The Burundian army has reported that 310 rebels and 15 soldiers died in the fighting. During the fighting, the NRC office and the home of one of its employees was hit by bullets and grenades. "Due to the security situation in the country, NRC has put most activities on hold and two out of four of the Norwegian staff have left the country," the NGO said. It added that it was considering a full evacuation but, due to the kidnapping, would remain in the country as long as possible. On Tuesday, seven international NGOs in the country condemned the abduction of the three humanitarian workers. The Agro Action Allemande, Flyktningeradet, Handicap International, IRC, Penal Reform International, Solidarites and World Vision, sought the support of the government and people of Burundi in ensuring the safety of their workers. Meanwhile, Radio Burundi reported that fighters of the Conseil national pour la defense de la democratie-Forces pour la defense de la democratie faction led by Pierre Nkurunziza kidnapped on Thursday an official of Gisuru Commune in Ruyigi Province. The official was in a car with soldiers travelling to Gisuru when they were attacked in Nyabitare. Nyabitare is where the four Members of Parliament, three of whom are yet to be released, were kidnapped recently.