Diplomats protest army looting of regroupment camp

The looting by Burundian army forces of the Kavumu civilian regroupment camp, just outside Bujumbura, on Sunday morning has been raised by the diplomatic community with senior members of the government. A large company of soldiers had entered Kavumu camp, saying they were investigating the reported presence of rebel forces, and rounded up camp residents into three groups, humanitarian sources said. They then searched and looted people’s tents, removing from the camp the personal property of regrouped people as well as food and non-food items from the camp stores. Camp residents threw stones at the looters, and the soldiers responded with threats to use their guns, news organisations reported.