Zedi Feruzi

Zedi Feruzi
Died(2015-05-23)23 May 2015
Ngagara district, Bujumbura, Burundi
Cause of deathAssassination
NationalityBurundian
Alma materUniversity of Burundi
OccupationPolitician
Political partyUnion for Peace and Development (UPD-Zigamibanga)

Zedi Feruzi (died 23 May 2015) was a Burundian politician from the minor Union for Peace and Development (UPD-Zigamibanga) party. His assassination during the political unrest of 2015, allegedly by supporters of the incumbent government of Pierre Nkurunziza, led to an increased polarisation between government and its political opponents.

Biography

A member of Burundi's small Muslim community, Feruzi studied at the University of Burundi. He taught History for several years at a Catholic secondary school in Bujumbura before entering the Burundian government in 2006 to work in the Ministry of Justice.[1] His brother served as governor of Muyinga Province.[2] Feruzi subsequently took the leadership of the Union for Peace and Development (UPD-Zigamibanga), a small party supported predominantly by Muslims, in opposition to President Pierre Nkurunziza.[3] In 2011, after the National Assembly of Burundi approved changed to laws governing political parties Feruzi withdrew the UPD-Zigamibanga from the ADC–Ikibiri. He was subsequently suspended by the executive committee of his own party.[4] Feruzi was a vocal critic of Nkurunziza's ambition to stand for a third presidential term which sparked a political crisis after it was announced in April 2015.[1]

On 23 May 2015, Feruzi was shot dead, together with his bodyguard, in a drive-by shooting in the Ngagara district of Bujumbura as he was returning home.[3] He was buried in a Muslim cemetery in Bujumbura. Several thousand people attended his funeral.[5] The murder was condemned by Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General, and the United Nations Security Council.[6] After his death other opposition politicians and activists went into hiding.[5][7] They suspended talks with the Burundian government to protest the killing of Feruzi.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b "Burundi: qui était l'opposant Zedi Feruzi, assassiné le 23 mai?". Le Monde. 25 May 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  2. ^ Andreas Mehler; Henning Melber; Klaas Van Walraven (October 2009). Africa Yearbook Volume 5: Politics, Economy and Society South of the Sahara In 2008. BRILL. p. 278. ISBN 978-90-04-17811-3.
  3. ^ a b Clement Manirabarusha & Njuwa Maina (23 May 2015). "Burundi opposition figure shot dead in capital: activist". Reuters. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  4. ^ Kalu, K.A.; Kieh, G.K.; Agbor, A.A.; Iloh, E.; Kallon, E.V.N.; Lumumba-Kasongo, T.; Nagar, D.; Onditi, F.; Vhumbunu, C.H. (2021). Peacebuilding in Africa: The Post-Conflict State and Its Multidimensional Crises. Lexington Books. p. 45. ISBN 978-1-7936-4313-1. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  5. ^ a b "Thousands attend funeral for murdered Burundi opposition leader Zedi Feruzi". The Guardian. 25 May 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  6. ^ "Burundi: UN chief condemns killing of opposition politician as tensions in country rise". United Nations. 24 May 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  7. ^ "Burundi opposition figures go into hiding following the killing of a politician". Fox News. 24 May 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  8. ^ Christian Irambona & Don Melvin (24 May 2015). "Opposition suspends talks as Burundi's crisis grows worse". CNN. Retrieved 27 May 2015.