From Voice of America

Reports of beatings, intimidation and extortion in the tiny southeast African country of Burundi have raised fears of increasing political repression ahead of elections in May. Recently, the violence has calmed, but rights activists, journalists and political opponents of the ruling party claim it has been replaced with electoral fraud.

Burundi’s Interior Minister Edouard Nduwimana has dismissed reports by international rights organizations that earlier this year accused the government of detaining and harassing critics. They also charged the ruling party with backing elements within its youth party – called the Imbonerakure – which are accused of mass extortion and widespread violence against civilians.

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