Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza announced his plan to seek a third term in office in April, sparking mass protests and a short-lived coup attempt in May lead by members of the country’s military.
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Regional African states meeting in Tanzania on Monday called for the July 15 presidential poll to be delayed to allow Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to mediate. The controversy reached a fever pitch on July 7 when Nkurinziza’s ruling party won the parliamentary elections that had been boycotted by opposition parties, suspecting the elections would not be conducted fairly.
Army spokesman Colonel Gaspard Baratuza reported shooting and “a situation of insecurity” near Rugazi, 140 kilometres (85 miles) north of the capital Bujumbura, in a thickly forested area.
Nkurunziza cites a courtroom ruling saying he can run once more.
Protesters say president Nkurunziza must be removed because the constitution limits the president to two terms, but the president’s supporters say he is eligible for a third term.
“The armed group entered from Rwanda and attacked very early yesterday morning”, said Canisius Ndayimanisha, governor of Kayanza province.
He said the decree had been signed by the president on Friday and was in response to the request made by leaders of east African states plus South Africa.
Under Burundi’s constitution, polls must be held at least one month before the presidential mandate expires on August 26 with government spokesman Philippe Nzobanariba warning of “institutional vacuum and chaos” should it happen after that.
The crisis has alarmed a region with a history of ethnic conflict. He returned to Burundi began purging his government and arrested several of the coup leaders. Over 158,000 refugees have fled to neighbouring countries as the country has destabilised, according to the UN. “Peaceful protests have been met with unwarranted use of force, including lethal force, in violation of Burundi’s obligation under national and worldwide law to guarantee the right to freedom of assembly”, Colville continued.
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Meanwhile a Burundian general in exile for his involvement in a failed coup in May said Mr Nkurunziza was risking “genocide” by stoking the ethnic divisions that resulted in 300,000 deaths during a 12-year civil war that ended in 2005.
