Burundi Protests Rage as Regional Leaders Prepare to Push for Peace
Burundi police opened fire on protesters Tuesday as President Pierre Nkurunziza defied international pressure to end a controversial third term bid, ahead of a regional summit to address the crisis.
One protester died in fresh clashes with police on the streets of Burundi's capital Bujumbura, while two others were reported killed overnight in a grenade explosion.
The latest deaths bring the number killed in more than two weeks of anti-government demonstrations to over 20 and come as East African leaders prepare to hold an emergency meeting in Tanzania on Wednesday.
Over 50,000 Burundians have fled into neighboring nations since the unrest began.
Leaders of the five-nation East African Community -- made up of Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda as well as Burundi -- are due to meet in Dar es Salaam.
Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila, South Africa's Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and the U.S. top diplomat for Africa Linda Thomas-Greenfield are also expected to attend.
On Tuesday police in Bujumbura opened fire on protesters in an apparent attempt to scatter crowds who wanted to attack the house of a police officer.
An AFP journalist at the scene also saw two other people with gunshot wounds, one of them a boy of around 10, hit in the arm.
In another part of the capital, officers fired tear gas to break up a crowd of some 200 youths.
While the police have ripped down barricades on main roads, side streets in key opposition areas remain blocked, guarded by angry demonstrators.
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 next month's election and stand down.
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 next month's election and stand down.
Opposition groups insist that it is unconstitutional for Nkurunziza 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.
"The presidents should be clear with Nkurunziza... they must tell him to leave for the good of everybody," said Aremus, a 24-year old protester.
"The summit tomorrow is a test... the heads of state must show their maturity in crisis management by telling Nkurunziza to leave," said Donatien, manning one of the street barricades.
The clashes between security forces and demonstrators have raised fears of a return to violence in the central African state, which is still recovering from a brutal 13-year civil war that ended in 2006.
The European Union and United States called Monday for the elections set for late June to be delayed.
African Union Commission chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma last week warned the time was not right for elections, and that it was "clear that there shouldn't be a third term."
But Nkurunziza said in a BBC interview that postponing the vote would worsen the situation.
"I can tell you that for enduring stability in Burundi you can't say that you can't organise elections," Nkurunziza said. "There would be many violence and many problems."
In Bujumbura's Musaga district, some 300 women marched singing and chanting slogans against a third term.
"No to the third term for Nkurunziza," one group shouted.
Asked to rule on the third-term issue, the constitutional court found in Nkurunziza's favor but not before one of the judges fled the country claiming its members were subject to death threats.
"Today we are optimistic that the elections will be very peaceful, transparent and also fair," Nkurunziza said. "We can assure (you) that we will accept the outcome of the ballot box."
Source: Agence France Presse
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