Twenty-six people were killed and seven wounded in an attack in a rural area of Burundi, the country’s security minister said Saturday, calling it the work of a “terrorist group” he did not identify.

Speaking at the scene, Alain Guillaume Bunyoni told reporters that 24 people were killed in their homes Friday night and two others died of their wounds at a local hospital.

He gave no further details about the attack in the Ruhagarika community of the rural northwestern province of Cibitoke.

The attack came shortly before a May 17 referendum that could extend the president’s term. It was not immediately clear if the attack was related.

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One survivor told the Associated Press the attackers came around 10 p.m. local time and “attacked households and set fire on houses.” Some victims were hacked with machetes and others were shot or burned alive, she said.

Her husband and two children were killed, she said. She spoke on condition of anonymity, citing safety concerns.

This East African country has seen deadly political violence since early 2015 when President Pierre Nkurunziza successfully pursued a disputed third term. An estimated 1,200 people died.

Now Burundians are being asked to vote on a proposed constitutional change to extend the president’s term from five years to seven, which would allow Nkurunziza to rule for another 14 years.

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Campaigns ahead of the referendum have been marred by hate speech, with one ruling party official sent to prison after he called for those who oppose the referendum to be drowned.

The United States earlier this month denounced “violence, intimidation and harassment” against those thought to oppose the referendum and expressed concern about the “nontransparent process” of changing the constitution.

Human Rights Watch has noted “widespread impunity” for authorities and their allies, including the ruling party’s youth wing, as they try to swing the vote in the president’s favor.

Many in Burundi, a poor country that still relies heavily on foreign aid, worry that a new round of bloodshed will follow the referendum, no matter its results.

Already more than 400,000 people have fled the country since the political unrest began in April 2015, according to the United Nations.

Nkurunziza, a former rebel leader, rose to power in 2005 after Burundi’s civil war, which killed about 300,000 people. He was reelected unopposed in 2010 after the opposition boycotted. He said he was eligible for a third term in 2015 because lawmakers, not the general population, chose him for his first term.</s>Burundi official says 26 people killed in overnight attack by 'terrorist group' in rural area

BUJUMBURA, Burundi (AP) — Burundi official says 26 people killed in overnight attack by 'terrorist group' in rural area.</s>BUJUMBURA, Burundi (AP) — Burundi official says 26 people killed in overnight attack by ‘terrorist group’ in rural area.</s>BUJUMBURA, Burundi (AP) — Burundi’s security minister says 26 people are dead and seven others wounded after an overnight attack blamed on a “terrorist group.”

Alain Guillaume Bunyoni told reporters that 24 people were killed in their homes Friday night and two others died of their wounds at a local hospital.

He gave no further details about the attack in the Ruhagarika community of the rural northwestern province of Cibitoke.

The attack comes shortly before Burundians vote May 17 in a controversial referendum that could extend the president’s term. It is not immediately clear if the attack is related.

The East African country has seen deadly political violence since early 2015 when President Pierre Nkurunziza successfully pursued a disputed third term.</s>Twenty-six people were killed and seven wounded in a village in rural Burundi late Friday, according to Burundi's security minister.

Security Minister Alain Guillaume Bunyoni said a "terrorist group" was responsible but he did not name the group, according to The Associated Press. The attack took place in the village of Ruhagarika in Cibitoke province, located in the northwest of the small East African country.

The attackers came over the border from the nearby Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bunyoni said, and returned there after the attack, according to Al-Jazeera.

The AP quoted a survivor, who said attackers came around 10 p.m. and " 'attacked households and set fire on houses.' Some victims were hacked with machetes and others were shot or burned alive," the AP says she said.

The AP talked with more survivors:

" 'These killers attacked my family and I am very angry,' said another survivor, Pascal Hakizimana. 'My family is dead and to make matters worse, the army did nothing to save them even when they were not far from here.' "A police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to a reporter, said four of the families targeted were headed by people he called 'police agents.' "

An unnamed local official told Agence France-Presse, "Some of the victims were stabbed, others were shot, there is even a whole family that was burned alive in their home," according to Al-Jazeera.

The country is preparing for a referendum in a few days which could extend the term of Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza, who has led the country since 2005, until 2034.

The BBC says the attack could be related to the referendum:

"It is not known who carried out the attacks, but some are blaming exiled opposition groups who are based outside Burundi and have vowed to disrupt the 17 May referendum. "Critics say a cult of personality is developing around Mr Nkurunziza, a former Hutu rebel leader who was the first president to be chosen in democratic elections since the start of Burundi's civil war in 1994. "A 'yes' vote in the referendum would allow him to stand for a further two seven-year terms from 2020.

Human Rights Watch blamed Burundi's government for a "political and human rights crisis" starting in 2015. In its 2018 report, the rights group said:</s>Burundi official says 26 people killed in overnight attack by 'terrorist group' in rural area. (Source: AP Photos)

BUJUMBURA, Burundi (AP) - Twenty-six people were killed and seven others wounded in an attack by an unidentified "terrorist group" in rural Burundi, the country's security minister said Saturday.

The attack came shortly before Burundians vote May 17 in a controversial referendum that could extend the president's term. It was not immediately clear if the attack was related, although some activists said they believe it was.

Speaking at the scene, Security Minister Alain Guillaume Bunyoni told reporters that 24 people were killed in their homes Friday night and two others died of their wounds at a local hospital. He gave no further details about the attack in Ruhagarika community in the northwestern province of Cibitoke.

One survivor told The Associated Press the attackers came around 10 p.m. and "attacked households and set fire on houses." Some victims were hacked with machetes and others were shot or burned alive, she said.

Her husband and two children were killed, she said. She spoke on condition of anonymity, citing safety concerns.

"These killers attacked my family and I am very angry," said another survivor, Pascal Hakizimana. "My family is dead and to make matters worse, the army did nothing to save them even when they were not far from here."

A police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to a reporter, said four of the families targeted were headed by people he called "police agents."

"(The attackers) said when leaving, 'Where are those you trust to rescue you?" he said.

"This is extra-judiciary killings. What one can ask is this: Do we have to see innocent people killed whenever elections are near in Burundi?" said Gerard Hakizimana, leader of a pro-democracy civic group known as Folucon F.

President Pierre Nkuruniza, on Twitter, urged unity in the East African nation and said those who carried out the attack would be pursued and punished.

Burundi has seen deadly political violence since early 2015 when Nkurunziza successfully pursued a disputed third term. He later survived a coup attempt led by senior army and police officers, including some who fled and announced they had launched a rebel group against the government.

An estimated 1,200 people, including ruling party supporters, have died in sporadic violence since April 2015, according to the United Nations, with most of the killings blamed on the authorities and their allies.

Now Burundians are being asked to vote on a proposal to extend the president's term from five years to seven, which would allow Nkurunziza to rule for another 14 years when his current term expires in 2020.

Campaigns ahead of the referendum have been marred by hate speech, with one ruling party official sent to prison after he called for those who oppose the referendum to be drowned.

The United States earlier this month denounced "violence, intimidation, and harassment" against those thought to oppose the referendum and expressed concern about the "non-transparent process" of changing the constitution.

Human Rights Watch has noted "widespread impunity" for authorities and their allies, including the ruling party's youth wing, as they try to swing the vote in the president's favor.

Many in Burundi, a poor country that still relies heavily on foreign aid, worry that a new round of bloodshed will follow the referendum no matter its results.

Already more than 400,000 people have fled the country since April 2015, according to the U.N.

Nkurunziza, a former rebel leader, rose to power in 2005 following the end of Burundi's civil war that killed about 300,000 people. He was re-elected unopposed in 2010 after the opposition boycotted. He said he was eligible for a third term in 2015 because lawmakers, not the general population, chose him for his first term.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>The Associated Press

 BUJUMBURA, Burundi. - Twenty-six people were killed and seven others wounded in an attack by an unidentified “terrorist group” in rural Burundi, the country’s security minister said Saturday.

The attack came shortly before Burundians vote May 17 in a controversial referendum that could extend the president’s term. It was not immediately clear if the attack was related, although some activists said they believe it was.

Speaking at the scene, Security Minister Alain Guillaume Bunyoni told reporters that 24 people were killed in their homes Friday night and two others died of their wounds at a local hospital. He gave no further details about the attack in Ruhagarika community in the northwestern province of Cibitoke.

One survivor told The Associated Press the attackers came around 10 p.m. and “attacked households and set fire on houses.” Some victims were hacked with machetes and others were shot or burned alive, she said.

Her husband and two children were killed, she said. She spoke on condition of anonymity, citing safety concerns.

“These killers attacked my family and I am very angry,” said another survivor, Pascal Hakizimana. “My family is dead and to make matters worse, the army did nothing to save them even when they were not far from here.”

A police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to a reporter, said four of the families targeted were headed by people he called “police agents.”

“(The attackers) said when leaving, ’Where are those you trust to rescue you?” he said.

“This is extra-judiciary killings. What one can ask is this: Do we have to see innocent people killed whenever elections are near in Burundi?” said Gerard Hakizimana, leader of a pro-democracy civic group known as Folucon F.

President Pierre Nkuruniza, on Twitter, urged unity in the East African nation and said those who carried out the attack would be pursued and punished.

Burundi has seen deadly political violence since early 2015 when Nkurunziza successfully pursued a disputed third term. He later survived a coup attempt led by senior army and police officers, including some who fled and announced they had launched a rebel group against the government.

An estimated 1,200 people, including ruling party supporters, have died in sporadic violence since April 2015, according to the United Nations, with most of the killings blamed on the authorities and their allies.

Now Burundians are being asked to vote on a proposal to extend the president’s term from five years to seven, which would allow Nkurunziza to rule for another 14 years when his current term expires in 2020.</s>Deadly attack in run-up to vote in Burundi

BUJUMBURA, Burundi — Twenty-six people were killed and seven others wounded in an attack by an unidentified “terrorist group” in rural Burundi, the country’s security minister said Saturday.

The attack came shortly before Burundians vote May 17 in a controversial referendum that could extend the president’s term. It was not immediately clear if the attack was related, although some activists said they believe it was.

Speaking at the scene, Security Minister Alain Guillaume Bunyoni told reporters that 24 people were killed in their homes Friday night and two others died of their wounds at a local hospital. He gave no further details about the attack in Ruhagarika community in the northwestern province of Cibitoke.

One survivor said the attackers came around 10 p.m. and “attacked households and set fire on houses.” Some victims were hacked with machetes and others were shot or burned alive, she said. She spoke on condition of anonymity, citing safety concerns.

“This is extra-judiciary killings. What one can ask is this: Do we have to see innocent people killed whenever elections are near in Burundi?” said Gerard Hakizimana, leader of a pro-democracy civic group known as Folucon F.

Burundi has seen deadly political violence since early 2015 when President Pierre Nkuruniza successfully pursued a disputed third term. He later survived a coup attempt led by senior army and police.

Now Burundians are being asked to vote on a proposal to extend the president’s term from five years to seven.

Eloge Willy Kaneza is an Associated Press writer.</s>The incident took place on Friday night in a village located in the province of Cibitoke close to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Xinhua news agency reported.

The motives and details of the attack are not specified.

According to earlier information, 23 people have been killed.

READ MORE: At Least 2 People Killed in Grenade Explosion in Burundi

The attack came shortly before Burundians vote May 17 in a controversial referendum that could extend the president's term.

Burundi, East African country has witnessed deadly political violence since early 2015 when President Pierre Nkurunziza continued a disputed third term.</s>BUJUMBURA, Burundi—Twenty-six people were killed and seven others were wounded in an attack by an unidentified terrorist group in rural Burundi, the country’s security minister said Saturday.

The attack came shortly before Burundians vote May 17 in a controversial referendum that could extend the president’s term. It wasn’t immediately clear if the attack was related, although some activists said they believe it was.
26 people are killed in Cibitoke Province, Burundi. The country's security minister attributes the attack on civilians in their houses to an unnamed "terrorist group".