FORMER Burundian army chief Colonel Jean Bikomagu on Saturday became the latest supporter of president Pierre Nkurunziza to be assassinated.

Col Bikomagu was shot dead in his car and his daughter was wounded, said presidential spokesman Willy Nyamitwe.

“Another black weekend in Burundi, blackened by the murder of a high-ranking member of the Burundian army in retirement. Very sad, very shocking,” Mr Nyamitwe posted on Facebook.

Earlier this month, General Adolphe Nshimirimana, the president’s senior adviser on security matters, was killed in a rocket attack on his car.

Mr Nkurunziza was elected by a landslide to a third term as president last month, following months of violent opposition protests that have killed almost 100 people and driven tens of thousands to seek refuge in neighbouring countries.

The unrest reached its peak in May, when sections of the military attempted to overthrow Mr Nkurunziza by force.