BUJUMBURA, Burundi (AP) — A former vice president of Burundi who fled the country after criticizing the ruling party has returned to the country after accusing some of her colleagues in the opposition of being "destructive."

Alice Nzomukunda, who was one of President Pierre Nkurunziza's deputies between 2005 and 2006, returned to Burundi Monday with two other members of the opposition bloc CNARED, which has been involved in on-off peace talks with the government.

Nzomukunda resigned her post in September 2006, accusing the ruling party of corruption and rights abuses.

Her return is seen as a victory for the embattled government, which faces accusations of rights abuses since Nkurunziza sought a third term in April 2015.

Hundreds of people have died in the violence and more than 300,000 Burundians are sheltering in neighboring countries.