Amidst the swirling protests, Burundi president Pierre Nkurunziza gave the surest sign yet that he would not back down from a bid for a third term as he handed in his papers to the electoral commission ahead of June elections that the African Union doubts can be held under the current climate.
The official declaration of his
contested candidature would further rile protesters who have see him as a
repressive, divisive leader incapable of reducing extreme poverty.
The move could further render a
high-profile presidential summit set for next week in Tanzania as an exercise
in damage control. It could be interesting: A tweet from the Rwandan presidency Friday posed the question: “If
your own citizens tell you we don’t want you to lead us, how do you say I am
staying whether you want me or not.”
Hundreds of people have
meanwhile, been arrested since protests against Nkurunziza’s bid to run for
office again broke out. Journalists also face intense pressure. Since the
protests began, the country’s main radio station has been down, while two
others have been blocked from broadcasting to the countryside.
Accused of extra-judicially
executing dozens of people, mainly opponents and rebels, Burundi’s police force
is believed to be working with the ruling party’s Imbonerakure militia.
The government denies all the
claims, and brands the protesters “terrorists”.
Opponents say Nkurunziza’s bid
is an unconstitutional violation of the Arusha agreement that established a
fragile power-sharing balance to end the 1993-2006 civil war that pitted the
then Tutsi-dominated army against Hutu rebels.
It would also be a costly
distraction. UN troops are preparing an offensive against Hutu rebels in
the DRC after plans for a joint operation with the Congolese army fell through,
the UN peacekeeping chief said Thursday.
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