Sporadic gunfire yesterday rang out in Burundi’s capital, the day after an army general announced he had ousted Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza, whose decision to seek a third term in office had provoked street protests.
Explosions and gunshots could be heard in central Bujumbura.
Thousands on Wednesday took to the streets to celebrate after Burundian Major General Godefroid Niyombare announced on a private radio station that Nkurunziza had been relieved of his duties.
Photo: AP
Nkurunziza was in neighboring Tanzania for a summit on his country’s troubles at the time. His whereabouts remained unclear, but the presidency said on Twitter that Nkurunziza urged the nation to remain calm amid the attempted coup and that the situation was under control.
The military is divided between Nkurunziza loyalists and those who back Niyombare, who was fired in February as the country’s intelligence chief.
Burundian Army chief of staff Major General Prime Niyongabo said on state radio late on Wednesday that he is “against Major General Niyombare.”
A grenade attack on Wednesday night seriously damaged the building of private broadcaster Renaissance TV, where Niyombare also made his coup statement, station director Innocent Muhozi said.
One of his offices was also burned overnight, he said.
Police withdrew from the streets of Bujumbura after Niyombare’s coup statement, while people applauded soldiers who rode by in tanks and trucks.
However, some officials remained loyal to Nkurunziza, whose office said a statement posted on the president’s Twitter and Facebook accounts on Wednesday evening that the coup attempt was unsuccessful.
At least 15 people have been killed during protests since April 26 over Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term. During the unrest, the military acted as a buffer between police and protesters, who said Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term violated the Burundian constitution and Arusha peace accords that ended a civil war.
Tanzanian President Jikaya Kiwkete said the regional leaders condemned the coup and called for constitutional order.
The constitution says a president can be popularly elected to two five-year terms. Nkurunziza maintains he can run for a third term because parliament elected him for his first one, leaving him open to be popularly elected to two terms.
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