Grenade blast in Bujumbura capital kills 2
The Briefing Issue #86, Monday May 11, 2020
This is the online version of RegionWeek for decision-makers and young professionals, a newsletter about depth and context to Burundi and East Africa stories— written by me, Fabrice Iranzi. You can sign up for your own subscription to get concise information about game-changing events and insights straight to your inbox:
BURUNDI IN THE HEADLINES
Dear Readers,
This Sunday, a bar located on 11th Avenue near Kamenge zone was hit by a grenade attack, at least two people were killed and twelve were injured, in a grenade blast in Burundi's economic capital Bujumbura, just days ahead of a general election, witnesses said on Monday.
According to people who were in the bar at the time of the attack, the attackers were in a vehicle, two individuals came down and were thought to be customers. All of a sudden they exploded a grenade and quickly left. Two people died on the spot.
The wounded were evacuated to the Médecins Sans Frontières hospital in Kigobe. An eyewitness told Reuters the blast occurred around 7 pm.
“I saw people being rushed to hospitals in ambulances. Shortly after, the police arrived and blocked access to the place,” he said.
According to BBC, Laurene Muzaliwa a Congolese Student at Hope Africa University was one of the victims of the 'grenade' attack in the bar.
Police spokesman Pierre Nkurikiye told state broadcaster RTNB the blast occurred on Sunday night in the suburb of Kamenge in the north of the city.
“One suspect has been arrested for investigation,” Nkurikiye said, adding that three of the victims were severely injured.
Witnesses told AFP news agency the bar belongs to a member of the Imbonerakure youth wing of the governing party, the National Council for the Defence of Democracy (CNDD-FDD).
Other Headlines
Football
Burundi’s domestic football season is to resume on May 21, more than a month after Africa’s last remaining football competition was suspended to allow political rallies to be held in stadium ahead of general elections, authorities have confirmed.
Burundi's top flight has three rounds remaining, with Ngozi-based Le Messager holding a four-point advantage at the top of the table over Musongati, who have a game in hand and will be the first back in action when they take on Athletico Olympic on Thursday next week.
BFF has also announced that the semi-finals and final of the country's domestic cup competition will be staged, with the decider to be held on June 13.
Before the season was halted, spectators at matches in Burundi had their temperatures taken and hands sprayed with disinfectant on the entrance to match venues.
Thanks for reading have a Fruitful week!
Fabrice Iranzi, RegionWeek.com
IN THE REGION
East African Community Partner States have been directed to support local production of essential medical products and supplies including masks, sanitizers, soaps, processed food, ventilators as part of efforts to combat COVID-19 in the region.
A Joint consultative meeting of Partner States’ Ministers and Cabinet Secretaries responsible for Health, Trade, Transport, and EAC Affairs via video conference held on 8th May 2020 to discuss a regional approach to COVID-19 further directed Partner States to facilitate farmers to continue farming activities during this pandemic and post COVID-19 period.
The consultative meeting also directed the Partner States to support agro-processing and value chains as an import substitution measure.
The Ministers requested the Ministries of Finance in the Partner States to establish special purpose financing schemes for small and medium enterprises, to cushion them from the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Ministers gave these directives in response to information availed to them that that the region’s key productive sectors are already experiencing a slowdown as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with sectors such as agriculture, trade, manufacturing and industry, tourism, offline retail, and catering being the worst affected. (East African Community)
COMESA Agency Strikes-off 12 Anti-Competition Trade Agreements.
More than twelve trade agreements that have been operational in the Common Market for several years have been banned for being anti-competition. The action was taken by the COMESA Competition Commission (CCC) after assessing the agreements in place up to 2019.
The banned Agreements were found to have the potential to bar potential competition in the Common Market (COMESA) by safeguarding dominance by monopoly undertakings. According to the Commission, anti-competitive agreements have the highest potential for partitioning the Common Market hence the renewed vigilance on such agreements.
Among them was that between Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) and Lagardere Sports S.A.S (LS). In the agreement, CAF had granted the exclusive right to commercialize its broadcasting and marketing rights to LS in the Common Market for an extended period of over twenty years.
Other sectors in which the Commission reviewed were distribution agreements affecting alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and the fast-moving consumer goods.
In another case regarding consumer protection, the Commission intervened and had the Ethiopian Airlines compensate passengers who had been inconvenienced as a result of overbooking.
Meanwhile, the Commission has cautioned consumers in the region to be alert lest they fall victim to fraud during this time when most businesses are operating online due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
In a statement issued in Lilongwe, Malawi, the Commission noted that most consumers have resorted to online purchases to avoid close physical contact in the conventional markets and also in compliance with directives from their respective governments.
“We are aware that consumers may be subject to online fraud and similar such vices during this time,” said the Commission in a statement issued by the Chief Executive Officer Mr. George Lipimile.
Since 1st April 2020, the Commission has embarked on an awareness campaign aimed at encouraging consumers in the Common Market to be aware of scams from businesses that make false claims. Online shoppers are advised to report complaints of such fraud to the Commission. (Comesa)
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