Purges cabinet
President Nkurunziza purges his cabinet, while protesters are warned that they will be treated as accomplices of the rebel generals who staged the coup. Defence Minister Gaciyubwenge is replaced by Ntahonvukiye, a lawyer who becomes the first civilian defence chief in 50 years. Foreign Minister Kavakure is replaced by Aime, a former ambassador to the African Union; while Trade Minister Ciza is replaced by Inantore. Spokesperson:
The president has powers under the constitution, including being able to change the government, He believes that the time has come and it is up to his discretion.
Refugee cholera outbreak
Outbreaks of cholera and severe diarrhoea strike tens of thousands of refugees from Burundi who are jammed into a village in neighbouring Tanzania. Aid agencies working in the village on the edge of Lake Tanganyika say that sick Burundians are overwhelming health infrastructure and sanitation facilities. There is not enough safe water for drinking. UNHCR reports at least seven Burundian refugees have died of severe diarrhoea.
Army calls for unity
Protesters battle police in violent anti-government demonstrations, as security forces try to stem unrest. At least two protesters are shot dead and eight are wounded in clashes with police in the capital, Bujumbura. Defence Minister Ntahonvukiye calls for unity in the wake of the abortive coup, which was crushed by loyalist forces after street fighting between rival factions. Military statement:
The survival of Burundi as a nation depends on the cohesion of the army.
Zedi Feruzi killed
Feruzi, leader of opposition UPD-Zigamibanga party, is killed in a drive-by shooting by unknown assailants in the nation’s capital, Bujumbura. Feruzi is outside his house when a car approaches and its occupants sprayed him with bullets. At least one of his bodyguards also died. The presidential office expresses shock at Feruzi’s killing and denies any role
France suspends co-operation
France suspends aid to Burundi’s police and defense establishment, amid a crackdown on anti-government protesters in the Central African country. France helps train the Burundian police, who engage in a violent suppression of anti-government street protests. It also helps train the Burundian army for international peacekeeping missions.
Catholic church withdraws
The Roman Catholic Church of Burundi announces that it will withdraw its priests appointed to help organize the elections at the heart of the political upheaval in the country.
The Catholic Church cannot support elections that are full of shortcomings. It cannot support a process which is not based on a consensus.
Leaders urge delay
Heads of state of Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya, plus South African President Zuma meet in Tanzania to discuss a political crisis in Burundi triggered by the president’s plan to run for a third term. Nkurunziza doesn’t attend, and is represented by the country’s foreign minister, Aime. Rwanda also sends a minister rather than the head of state. The leaders call for the postponement of elections by at least a month and a half. Tanzania’s President Kikwete:
The leaders have been trying to navigate our way so we can help the people of Burundi to land safely under the current circumstances.
Students break into embassy
0 CommentsIn Bujumbura, students climb over the U.S. Embassy wall and under a gate to seek refuge inside the fortified compound. The Embassy confirms about 100 students peacefully remain in the embassy’s parking lot.
The police officers did not resort to violence; no shots were fired and tear gas was not used. Four people suffered minor injuries during the movement.
Torch election material
0 CommentsAttackers in Burundi set fire to a building storing election materials. There is no indication who is responsible. Police fire shots at the gang to chase them away. A local governor:
A group of unidentified young people took advantage of the police who were sleeping on duty and torched a building housing election material, Part of the ballot boxes and voting booths were burned, but people were able to save the rest.
Flees country
Ntavyohanyuma, the head of Burundi’s parliament, says he has fled the country for Belgium due to violence
For the moment, I am forced to stay in Brussels… I stayed here given the difficulties in my country, difficulties which are due to the illegal third mandate of the president. On the eve of the election … I would like to say to him (Nkurunziza) that the mandate he wants to have is illegal. I would like to say to him that forcing through the election is senseless
Attacks disrupt polls
0 CommentsArmed groups throw grenades at polling stations in both the capital Bujumbura and in some provinces, delaying the start of voting in many of the centres, police and election officials said. Opposition and civil societies are boycotting the polls, saying the elections are not free and fair. President of the Bujumbura electoral commission:
Voting has not yet begun in many centres in the capital because election officials are trying to prepare materials and in almost all of the stations, these arrived late because of the overnight attacks,
Skips crisis talks
Nkurunziza skips regional talks aimed at brokering a deal to end weeks of unrest in the country, choosing instead to campaign for his third term. Leaders of the five-nation East African Community (EAC) bloc are due to meet Monday in Dar es Salaam. Foreign Minister Alain Aime-Nyamitwe would take his place. Nkurunziza will instead lead his presidential campaign in Burundi’s central Mwaro and Gitega regions.
Wins parliamentary election
Nkurunziza’ party – the CNDD FDD — wins 77 out of 100 seats in parliament, in an election that is boycotted by most opposition parties. The turnout for the parliamentary poll is low in the districts of Bujumbura where there are protests, but in some provinces outside the capital it is as high as 98%. The presidential election is scheduled for 15 July.
Gunmen, soldiers clash
Soldiers and unidentified gunmen clash in Kayanza province, near the border with Rwanda. The governor of Kayanza says the gunmen crossed from Rwanda, a charge denied by Rwanda’s government. The US is:
deeply concerned by reports that fighting has broken out in several areas of Burundi and by recently broadcast remarks by Burundians threatening to use force against the government.
Rwandan foreign minister:
I would think it’s better for Burundi to concentrate on the issues Burundi has rather than looking for issues elsewhere.
Rebels killed
Burundi’s army kills 31 suspected rebels and capture 170 others in fighting in the country’s north. Six soldiers are wounded in fighting with suspected rebels, and nearly 80 assorted weapons are seized.
Ban urges calm
UN Secretary General Ban presses Burundian authorities to ensure elections are carried out peacefully.
[The Secretary] calls on the authorities to do all in their power to ensure security and a peaceful atmosphere during the election. He further calls on all parties to refrain from any acts of violence that could compromise the stability of Burundi and the region. [The pause in the inter-Burundian dialogue] took place without agreement being reached on a range of issues that would have contributed to the creation of a climate conducive to the holding of credible and peaceful elections, as contained in the relevant recommendations of the EAC and the African Union.
Election
Elections are held in Burundi amidst unrest. Turnout is low in the capital, and one province but 16 other provinces has a good level of voters. U.S. State Department:
The legitimacy of the electoral process in Burundi over the past few months has been tainted by the government’s harassment of opposition and civil society members, closing down of media outlets and political space, and intimidation of voters.
Emmanuel Ndereyimana dies
Ndereyimana. a member of Rwasa’s FNL political group, who had been organizing protests, is shot dead outside his parent’s house in the Kinama area and then his attackers, believed to be from the government youth wing, Imbonerakure, throw a grenade at his body.
Report: Security fired on protestors
Burundian security forces crush anti-government demonstrations, including shooting protesters running away from them, to silence those opposed Nkurunziza bid for a third-term.
Amnesty international says in a report
Burundian authorities sought not just to disperse demonstrations, but to punish protesters for expressing their political views. They used excessive and disproportionate force, including lethal force, against protesters, at times shooting unarmed protesters running away from them,
Responds to Buhari
Senator Leahy, in a statement titled, Buhari’s Mis-Directed Criticism of the Leahy Law on Human Rights, says President Buhari should clean up military units allegedly implicated in atrocities in order to get more military support from US instead of rebuking the Leahy Law. He charges Buhari to direct his attention to and clean up the units implicated in such atrocities.
It is well documented by the State Department and by respected human rights organisations that Nigerian army personnel have, for many years, engaged in a pattern and practice of gross violations of human rights against the Nigerian people and others, including summary executions of prisoners, indiscriminate attacks against civilians, torture, forced disappearances and rape. Rarely have the perpetrators been prosecuted or punished. This abusive conduct not only violates the laws of war, it creates fear and loathing among the Nigerian people whose support is necessary to defeat a terrorist group like Boko Haram. President Buhari ignores the undisputed fact that most Nigerian army units have been approved, under the Leahy Law, for U.S. training and equipment. Only those particular units against which there is credible evidence of the most heinous crimes are ineligible for U.S. aid. And even those units can again become eligible if the Nigerian Government takes effective steps to bring the responsible individuals to justice.
I strongly agree with President Buhari about the need to defeat Boko Haram, and I have supported tens of millions of dollars in U.S. aid to Nigeria for that purpose. But rather than suggest that the United States is at fault for not funding murderers and rapists in the Nigerian military, he should face up to his own responsibility to effectively counter Boko Haram.