DANNY GOLD

Over 150,000 people have fled the small Eastern African nation of Burundi since political strife, intimidation, and unrest have plagued the country in recent months. Many of those migrants have sought refuge in neighboring Rwanda. Nearly 30,000 civilians are now living in Mahama refugee camp, one of the largest UNHCR camps built since the crisis began in April 2015.

The Buterere neighborhood of Burundi's capital city Bujumbura is a stronghold of support for the National Forces of Liberation, one of the main opposition parties currently campaigning against President Pierre Nkurunziza. Buterere is also the site of many demonstrations and clashes between protesters and police since Nkurunziza announced his candidacy for a highly contested third term in April.

Burundi once enjoyed a vibrant media scene, with many independent journalists and radio stations operating freely. Yet when President Pierre Nkurunziza announced his bid for a highly contested third term in office in April, it sparked mass protests. Since then, authorities and pro-government bodies have intimidated and arrested journalists.

Burundi's crisis deepens following last week's reported clashes between an unidentified rebel group and the Burundi Defense Force in the northwestern region of Burundi. The Burundian military killed over 30 militants and captured 170, according to the army's spokesman. While the presidential vote is still scheduled for July 21, it appears President Pierre Nkurunziza now faces an apparent armed rebellion.

In the past several weeks, gunfire and explosions have pierced the night in Bujumbura, Burundi's capital. The identity of the shooters has remained a mystery, although many suspect the police, in conjunction with the Imbonerakure, the youth wing of the ruling party.

Thousands of jubilant supporters attended a campaign rally for Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza and his CNDD-FDD party in Cibitoke Province on July 17, in what is expected to be one of his last public appearances ahead of Tuesday's controversial election.

Following a night of intense gunfire and explosions in Burundi's capital of Bujumbura that left at least one civilian and one police officer dead, voters turned out in low numbers for the country's controversial presidential election, in which President Pierre Nkurunziza is seeking a third term that critics charge is unconstitutional.

Though the presidential elections in Burundi have concluded, political violence surrounding the controversial vote has not simmered. On the night of July 22, members of the Imbonerakure, the youth wing of the African nation's ruling party, are alleged to have murdered a member of the FNL opposition party in the capital of Bujumbura.