Burundi president clings to power despite threat of war
BUJUMBURA: Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza is seeking a third term in tomorrow’s election at a high price: Months of demonstrations, a looming insurgency and growing concerns that his ambition could push the country into a civil war.
“Nkurunziza’s determination to continue with his bid for a third term rules out a peaceful solution to the electoral crisis,” said Chris McKeon, Africa analyst at the global risk consultant Verisk Maplecroft.
Nkurunziza’s announcement on April 25 that he will seek a third five-year term sparked protests in which about 80 people have been killed. Protesters say his bid violates the constitution and the 2000 Arusha agreement, which led to the end of a 12-year civil war in 2005.
More than 145 000 Burundians have fled to neighbouring countries.
Many of them said they feared attacks by the Imbonerakure, the youth wing of the ruling party CNDD-FDD.
Nkurunziza thwarted a coup in May, but the army clashed recently in the north with attackers who, one of the coup plotters said, were renegade soldiers aiming to topple the president. But McKeon also said that the insurgents “have no clear strategy and the strength of their supporters is unknown”.
The presidential election has been post- poned twice, from June 26 to July 15 and 21, under pressure from the African Union, the EuropeanUnion and the United States.
But Nkurunziza has ignored calls from the East African mediator, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, to hold the polls only after the government has reached an agreement with the opposition.
The protests in Burundi followed similar ones in Congo, where the senate finally scrapped draft legislation allowing President Joseph Kabila to extend his 14-year rule, and Burkina Faso, wheredemonstrations forced then-president Blaise Compaore to flee after 27 years in power. – ANA