A close aide of Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza has been killed in an attack on his car in the capital, Bujumbura.<\/p>\n
Gen Adolphe Nshimirimana was a former army chief of staff and intelligence chief.<\/p>\n
The attackers targeted his car in the Kamenge district reportedly with machine guns and rocket launchers.<\/p>\n
Burundi has been racked by unrest since April, when Mr Nkurunziza announced he would seek a third term in office.<\/p>\n
Opponents argued this contravened the constitution and there was a failed coup attempt in May.<\/p>\n
A presidential election was then held last month which Mr Nkurunziza won, but which was boycotted by the opposition.<\/p>\n
Gen Nshimirimana was reportedly in charge of the president’s personal security and had been central in cracking down on protests.<\/p>\n
Witnesses to the attack said four men in military fatigues had sprayed the car with bullets.<\/p>\n
Other witnesses said rockets were also fired.<\/p>\n
Presidential adviser Willy Nyamitwe told Reuters: “He has been killed by a bullet… He was in the car with some bodyguards but I don’t know exactly what happened.”<\/p>\n