Tanzanian presidency have said that Burundian President
Pierre Nkurunziza is still in Dar es Salaam
Some other sources also said that talks underway between
rival Burundi army factions after coup attempt.
A top Burundian general launched a coup attempt against
President Pierre Nkurunziza on Wednesday, bringing to a head weeks of violent
protests against the president’s bid to stand for a third term.
General Godefroid Niyombare, a powerful former intelligence
chief who was sacked earlier in the year, announced via a private radio station
that the president had been overthrown hours after he left for neighbouring
Tanzania for talks with regional leaders.
The presidency, however, said in a brief message on Twitter
that the coup had “failed”.
Pro-Nkurunziza troops were still in control of key
institutions including the presidential palace and state broadcaster, witnesses
said, and fired warning shots to stop demonstrators from marching on the state
television and radio building.
“President Pierre Nkurunziza is removed from office, the
government is dissolved,” General Niyombare said in the dramatic broadcast on
the Insaganiro radio station.
“All people are asked to respect the lives and property of
others.”
Hundreds of civilians ran through the streets of the
capital, cheering “victory” and running with Burundi’s flag, an AFP
photographer said.
The general said he was committed to the democratic process and
would work with others towards holding elections in the impoverished,
landlocked central African nation.
Over 20 people have been killed and scores wounded since
late April, when Burundi’s ruling CNDD-FDD party nominated Nkurunziza to stand
for re-election in June 26 polls.
Niyombare said he would form a “committee for the
restoration of national harmony,” a temporary body whose “mission, among
others, is the restoration of national unity… and the resumption of the
electoral process in a peaceful and fair environment.”
Niyombare is a highly respected figure who was sacked from
his position as chief of intelligence in February after he opposed Nkurunziza’s
attempt to stay in office.
Opposition and rights groups insist that it is unconstitutional
for Nkurunziza, who has been in office since 2005, to run for more than two
terms. But he argues that his first presidential term did not count as he was
elected by parliament, not directly by the people.
Asked to rule on the issue, Burundi’s constitutional court
found in his favour but not before one of the judges fled the country claiming
its members were subject to death threats.
More than 50,000 Burundians have also fled into neighbouring
nations in recent weeks, with the UN preparing for thousands more to come amid
widespread reports of ruling party militia intimidating opponents.
There were more demonstrations on Wednesday, with hundreds
of civilians marching towards state radio and television, while the influential
African Public Radio (RPA) — which has been shut down at the start of the
protests — was back on air.
“Don’t shoot at civilians. Shoot in the air. Shoot at
military targets, not civilians. We have to protect the state TV and radio,” an
army colonel was heard ordering soldiers protecting the facility.
Nkurunziza left Burundi earlier Wednesday for Dar-es-Salaam
in neighbouring Tanzania, where he was to meet with leaders of the five-nation
East African Community (EAC) — made up of Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda as
well as Burundi.
The president was scheduled to join talks on ending the
crisis in his country, but by late afternoon his whereabouts were unclear.
A brief statement on Twitter from the presidency said: “The
situation is under control, there is no coup in Burundi.”
The African Union, European Union and United States have
condemned the third-term bid by Nkurunziza, a former rebel leader from the Hutu
majority who identifies himself as a born-again Christian and football fanatic.
Despite coming intense international pressure, Nkurunziza
has repeatedly rejected international calls to end his bid for a third term.
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