Report: Burundi militia raped women with opposition links

KIGALI, Rwanda – A Human Rights Watch report says members of the youth wing of Burundi's ruling party have gang-raped women and girls related to people accused of being opposed to President Pierre Nkurunziza.

The report released Wednesday says several women told the rights group that Imbonerakure members sometimes would tell the victim they were raping her because they could not find her relative.

The rights group said it interviewed more than 70 rape victims and that 14 said they recognized at least one attacker as an Imbonerakure member.

Burundi has been in turmoil since Nkurunziza last year pursued and won a third term that many oppose.

Hundreds of people have died, and more than 220,000 have fled their homes. Rights groups have accused the government of violence against opposition members and protesters.