As Burundi tightens the screws on anti-government voices, opposition leaders, activists and journalists are fleeing the country for Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Europe.

Analysts term the exodus of anti-regime voices as yet another attempt to silence those who could threaten President Pierre Nkurunziza’s new coalition with his long-time rival, Agathon Rwasa, now serving as Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.

Mr Rwasa led a team dispatched by the president a few weeks ago to reach out to regional leaders in an attempt to secure legitimacy for the new government.

Last Wednesday, the president’s senior communications advisor ruled out talks with the opposition and civil society groups, saying the government will not negotiate “with those who are charged with insurrection, and want to bring our country into chaos and war.”

This comes two weeks after the government charged 32 opposition leaders and civil society activists with organising and financing the violence that has rocked Burundi for nearly five months.

READ: Burundi issues warrants for activists, opposition

The charges are based on findings by a commission of inquiry formed on April 29 to investigate the cause of the violence and those behind it.

The report only mentions members of the opposition and two former Burundian presidents who were vocal in opposing President Nkurunziza’s third term bid. No member of government or the ruling party CNDD-FDD is mentioned in the report.