Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza has postponed parliamentary elections by one week to June 2, presidential official Willy Nyamitwe told media yesterday, following weeks of violent protests and a failed coup.
Legislative elections had been due on Tuesday next week, but were postponed by a week following “a proposal from the electoral commission, to respond to a request from opposition parties, and finally to answer calls of the region and the international community,” Nyamitwe said.
No decision has been made as to whether a presidential poll set for June 26 would also be delayed.
Photo: AFP
“Wait and see,” Nyamitwe said.
The EU joined the African Union on Tuesday calling for a delay to the elections, while South African President Jacob Zuma said they should be “postponed indefinitely” after a meeting of Africa’s Great Lakes bloc of nations.
At least 20 people died in weeks of street battles with security forces before demonstrations ended last week when generals launched a failed coup attempt, but protests resumed again this week.
Protesters clashed yesterday with security forces, who fired warning shots and tear gas to break up the crowds, who then swiftly regrouped elsewhere.
Opposition and rights groups say that Nkurunziza’s bid for a third five-year term in power is against the constitution and the terms of the peace deal that brought an end to the 13-year civil war in 2006.
However, Nkurunziza, a former rebel leader who believes he has divine backing to lead the country, says his first term in power did not count as he was elected by parliament, not directly by the people.
He has been accused by human rights groups of launching a campaign of repression against opponents and trying to silence independent media since coup leaders admitted defeat on Friday after fierce fighting with loyalist troops.
The presidency dismissed such claims, saying it would never carry out “revenge” raids and promising fair trials for those arrested.
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