Regina's Burundian community marches to protest deaths in African nation

Members of the Burundian community in Regina braved the cold to send a message this weekend: they marched and sang in front of Legislature to honour and remember the 79 victims massacred by the African country's military on Dec. 11.

The unrest in the small African country began when the president, Pierre Nkurunziza, announced a third term of office, which goes against the country's constitution, according to one of the protestors in front of the Legislature.

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"The government didn't want anybody to come in to the country. But people need to be protected. The civilians need to be protected, and this is the message we want to send out: 'please help,'" said Valery Mucowintore, one of the marchers bundled up on Saturday afternoon.

Mucowintore said he hopes the march raises knowledge about the human rights violations happening in his home country, which is located in central Africa.

"What's happening in Burundi, it's not obvious that it's already a genocide, but it's getting there because people are targeted based on their political affiliation or their ethnic [affiliation] too," he said.

Mucowintore said he hopes the Canadian government will help protect Burundi citizens by sending forces.

He also said the Burundian community  in Regina is worried violence might escalate the way it did two decades ago in neighbouring Rwanda.