Despite the tense situation and continued smaller clashes, Burundi was able to continue with a coalition government and to avoid a new general explosion of violence. But in April 1994 the new president, Cyprien Ntaryamira, died in the same plane crash as Rwandan President Habyarimana. Government and army officials reassured the country that the crash was related to Rwanda's conflict, not Burundi's, and the president of the national assembly, Sylvestre Ntibantunganya, quickly took office as interim president. After considerable controversy he was elected president in September 1994. The Current Situation Extremists on both sides have continued trying to undermine the coalition government.
Ethnic tensions are high, and killings have occurred in many areas of the country.
In late March fighting broke out in the capital, Bujumbura, after the assassination of the energy minister by Tutsi extremists and the killings of three Belgians and two Burundian soldiers by Hutu gunmen a week later. In retaliation for the latter killings, Tutsi soldiers and militiamen attacked neighborhoods in the capital on March 25-26, prompting the flight of at least 25,000 people toward bordering countries. In addition, thousands of Rwandan Hutu refugees fled from camps in northern Burundi, although that exodus appears to have since halted. Moderate forces within Burundi have tried valiantly to avert a recurrence of the 1993 killings. They have had the help of a small Organization of African Unity peacekeeping force consisting of 46 military observers.