Burundi Court Okays Nkurunziza’s Third-term Bid, Judges Flee
TVC NEWS [BUJUMBURA] - Burundi’s constitutional court on Tuesday ruled that the controversial third term bid of President Pierre Nkurunziza is lawful and constitutional.
“The renewal of the presidential term through direct universal suffrage for five years is not against the constitution of Burundi.”
The court stated this in a statement issued on Tuesday even as dozens of protesters marched in the capital Bujumbura to say they would “never accept” a campaign they call illegal.
It would be recalled that announcement that he would stand in a June 26 vote has plunged Burundi into its worst political crisis since its ethnically fuelled civil war ended a decade ago.
Meanwhile, a leading opposition has described the ruling as a “coup”.
'Today's ruling by the constitutional court is a coup against democracy', Agathon Rwasa told journalists.
“Their decision is nothing but a coup against the Arusha accord, and the current constitution,” Rwasa told journalists, referring to a peace agreement that ended ethnic conflict in nearby Rwanda.
“It is a clear message to the people that they count for nothing, and that only Nkurunziza and his friends count in this nation.”
But there is widespread opposition against the ruling as at least, four of the seven constitution court judges had fled the country.
“We don’t care about the constitutional court’s decision because we know this court is manipulated,” Jean Minani, leader of Frodebu-Nyakuri party, part of one coalition behind the protests, told AFP.
He said rallies would not stop until the president backed down.
Burundi ready to free detainees to help dialogue, says govt
TVC NEWS [BUJUMBURA] -- Burundi's vice president said on Tuesday the government was ready to free those detained during more than a week of protests against President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for a third term, saying it was a move to help dialogue and restore calm.
"We urge the protesters against the third term for Nkurunziza to stop that illegal movement," Vice President Prosper Banzombanza told a meeting of diplomats and representatives of civil society groups and opposition parties in Bujumbura.
"To give chance to dialogue and to calm, the government is ready to release all the people arrested during protests," Banzombanza added.
“The renewal of the presidential term through direct universal suffrage for five years is not against the constitution of Burundi.”
The court stated this in a statement issued on Tuesday even as dozens of protesters marched in the capital Bujumbura to say they would “never accept” a campaign they call illegal.
It would be recalled that announcement that he would stand in a June 26 vote has plunged Burundi into its worst political crisis since its ethnically fuelled civil war ended a decade ago.
Meanwhile, a leading opposition has described the ruling as a “coup”.
'Today's ruling by the constitutional court is a coup against democracy', Agathon Rwasa told journalists.
“Their decision is nothing but a coup against the Arusha accord, and the current constitution,” Rwasa told journalists, referring to a peace agreement that ended ethnic conflict in nearby Rwanda.
“It is a clear message to the people that they count for nothing, and that only Nkurunziza and his friends count in this nation.”
But there is widespread opposition against the ruling as at least, four of the seven constitution court judges had fled the country.
“We don’t care about the constitutional court’s decision because we know this court is manipulated,” Jean Minani, leader of Frodebu-Nyakuri party, part of one coalition behind the protests, told AFP.
He said rallies would not stop until the president backed down.
Burundi ready to free detainees to help dialogue, says govt
TVC NEWS [BUJUMBURA] -- Burundi's vice president said on Tuesday the government was ready to free those detained during more than a week of protests against President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for a third term, saying it was a move to help dialogue and restore calm.
"We urge the protesters against the third term for Nkurunziza to stop that illegal movement," Vice President Prosper Banzombanza told a meeting of diplomats and representatives of civil society groups and opposition parties in Bujumbura.
"To give chance to dialogue and to calm, the government is ready to release all the people arrested during protests," Banzombanza added.
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