Protests Flare for 2nd Week in Burundi Over Nkurunziza
TVC News
Hundreds of protesters in Burundi took to the streets of the capital on Monday demanding President Pierre Nkurunziza abandon his bid for a third term in office.
The demonstrations came at the end of a two-day truce following a week of violent political protests.
No fewer than six people have been killed in unrest since Nkurunziza announced on April 25 he would stand in a June election. The opposition says Nkurunziza's candidature violates the constitution.
His supporters, however, say he is eligible to run again, since his first term in office followed his election by parliament - not directly by the people as the constitution specifies.
No fewer than 200 protesters gathered in a suburb of the capital Bujumbura, shouting at police, who have for days blocked roads to prevent demonstrators from moving into the centre of the city.
The opposition protesters announced a two-day truce over the weekend but threatened to return to the streets on Monday unless Nkurunziza backs down.
"Please, Nkurunziza, give up the third term so that peace returns in the country," demonstrators shouted in the Kinindo suburb, where dozens gathered after protest organisers called for a halt to demonstrations over the weekend.
Since the protests began, the army has regularly come between the police and demonstrators to avoid further clashes and the protesters believe the soldiers are neutral.
The United States, European nations and regional countries had urged Nkurunziza not to stand, saying he risked undermining the Arusha peace deal which ended the country's civil war and has kept it calm for a decade.
The Arusha deal and the constitution say the president is limited to two five-year terms.
Defence Minister Major General Pontien Gaciyubwenge said on Saturday no one would direct the army to violate the Arusha deal or constitution, emphasising its neutral role.
The army, previously a Tutsi-led force, now includes former rebel groups, including the militia once commanded by Nkurunziza. Many see the army as a vital force for stability.
President Nkurunziza has been in power since 2005.
Hundreds of protesters in Burundi took to the streets of the capital on Monday demanding President Pierre Nkurunziza abandon his bid for a third term in office.
The demonstrations came at the end of a two-day truce following a week of violent political protests.
No fewer than six people have been killed in unrest since Nkurunziza announced on April 25 he would stand in a June election. The opposition says Nkurunziza's candidature violates the constitution.
His supporters, however, say he is eligible to run again, since his first term in office followed his election by parliament - not directly by the people as the constitution specifies.
No fewer than 200 protesters gathered in a suburb of the capital Bujumbura, shouting at police, who have for days blocked roads to prevent demonstrators from moving into the centre of the city.
The opposition protesters announced a two-day truce over the weekend but threatened to return to the streets on Monday unless Nkurunziza backs down.
"Please, Nkurunziza, give up the third term so that peace returns in the country," demonstrators shouted in the Kinindo suburb, where dozens gathered after protest organisers called for a halt to demonstrations over the weekend.
Since the protests began, the army has regularly come between the police and demonstrators to avoid further clashes and the protesters believe the soldiers are neutral.
The United States, European nations and regional countries had urged Nkurunziza not to stand, saying he risked undermining the Arusha peace deal which ended the country's civil war and has kept it calm for a decade.
The Arusha deal and the constitution say the president is limited to two five-year terms.
Defence Minister Major General Pontien Gaciyubwenge said on Saturday no one would direct the army to violate the Arusha deal or constitution, emphasising its neutral role.
The army, previously a Tutsi-led force, now includes former rebel groups, including the militia once commanded by Nkurunziza. Many see the army as a vital force for stability.
President Nkurunziza has been in power since 2005.
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