Congolese security forces killed at least 18 Burundian refugees during clashes over plans to send some of them home, local activists and a diplomatic source said. Activist Wendo Joel said the refugees had seized a weapon and killed a soldier, though that account was not confirmed by other sources. "The soldiers first fired in the air but there were many refugees," Joel told Reuters. A Western diplomat said at least 18 refugees died and dozens more were wounded. A local army spokesman, Dieudonne Kasereka, told Reuters there had been clashes between soldiers and refugees armed with knives and machetes, but that he did not know if there were any deaths.

Source: The Star September 16, 2017 09:45 UTC