Talks to strike deal in poll rift
Calls for Burundi to delay election
GOVERNMENT and opposition rivals met in Burundi yesterday seeking a deal after days of deadly demonstrations against a third term bid by the president, as international pressure mounts to end the crisis.
But the meeting came as President Pierre Nkurunziza was expected to submit an application to the national electoral commission to seek a third term.
The move raises fears of stoking more anger among those protesting against his bid for another five years in office.
Tomorrow is the deadline for prospective candidates to submit their applications to the CENI election commission.
At least 18 people have been killed, including protesters and police, and scores wounded since late April, when the CNDD-FDD nominated Nkurunziza to stand for re-election.
Sources said opposition were pushing for a potential delay of the polls, after African Union Commission chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma warned on Thursday the time was not right for elections.
United Nations special envoy for the Great Lakes region, Said Djinnit, appealed for calm.
Protesters have defied repeated calls to end demonstrations, after more than a week of running battles in which over a dozen people have been killed, including police.
But the streets of the capital were quiet yesterday amid torrential rains.
Opposition parties and civil society groups say Nkurunziza’s third-term quest violates both the constitution, which limits a president to two terms in office, and the accords that ended a 13year civil war between Tutsis and Hutus in 2006.
Nkurunziza, a former rebel leader from the Hutu majority who has been in power since 2005, has come under intense international pressure to withdraw from the June 26 election.
The deadly protests have put Burundi’s army into a pivotal role, standing between protesters, police and pro-government militia.
The army’s stance has become increasingly important, but analysts warn its loyalties and powerful influence could change if the crisis degenerates further.
Burundi’s civil war left some 300 000 dead and as part of the Arusha Agreement in 2000, which paved the way for a final peace, the army and police were to be reformed with equal numbers of Tutsi and Hutu, in a country where Hutus make up some 85% of the people.
The new army succeeded in bringing together old enemies, earning a reputation for neutrality and professionalism among much of the population.
But as tensions and anger grows, experts say it is far from certain the army would choose the side of the majority of the population.
The army is also divided along political and ethnic lines. — AFP-Reuters