Nyarugusu (Tanzania) : armed robbery

A trader in zone 11 was attacked at his home by armed men who have not yet been identified. Two refugees, including a Burundian, were seriously injured. The incident took place in the Nyarugusu refugee camp in northwestern Tanzania on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

According to sources on site, it was around midnight on Tuesday when several gunshots were heard.

Men armed with rifles who have not yet been identified targeted a household of a trader, a money transfer agent in village 7 of zone 11.

The toll is two injured, including a Congolese trader and a Burundian who tried to intervene. An as yet unknown amount of money and mobile phones were stolen, according to a community leader who believes that if the refugees had not intervened in time, things would have gotten worse.

The police have already started investigations but the refugees also have initial suspicions about police officers and civilian guards in the camp.

Refugees regret that the end-of-year celebrations are disrupted by increased insecurity in the camp.

“On Tuesday, those who had gone to the Makele trading center not far from the camp to buy even a kilo of meat for the celebrations were beaten and robbed of their belongings by civilian guards and Tanzanians,” deplore household chiefs in Nyarugusu.

Refugees recommend that the police be extra vigilant during this end-of-year period.

Nyarugusu is home to more than 110,000 refugees, including more than 50,000 Burundians, the rest being of Congolese origin.