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Protestors against Nkurunziza third term regroup

Saturday June 20 2015
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Burundians protest against President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for third term in office in Musaga, outskirts of the capital Bujumbura, on April 30, 2015. AFP PHOTO | SIMON MAINA

Burundi protesters are regrouping for another round of demonstrations to push for President Pierre Nkurunziza to step down.

According to sources in Burundi, young people who are opposed to the president are quietly being recruited to join forces to face off with the ruling party-leaning militia, the Imbonerakure.

“Those opposed to the third-term bid are recruiting the youth, and each is being given $150 in cash,” said a source in Cibitoke, north of the capital Bujumbura.

Since the start of the violence two months ago when Burundi’s ruling National Council for the Defence of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) nominated President Pierre Nkurunziza to stand for re-election, more than 70 Burundians have died, over 1,000 have been jailed and around 150,000 have sought refuge in neighbouring countries.

The source further said that some civilians seeking refuge in neighbouring countries, including some army defectors, could be planning on mounting a rebellion against President Nkurunziza. But the government has rejected claims of a possible armed rebellion by civilians and army defectors.

“No one is joining any armed group: If you have any information please share it with us,” Burundi’s army spokesman, Col Gaspard Baratuza, told The EastAfrican.

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Talks between the government and the opposition hit a snag when the opposition coalition demanded the resignation of UN mediator Said Djinnit for allegedly favouring the president’s side in the UN-sponsored consultative political dialogue. Mr Djinnit stepped down on June 11.

READ: Burundi talks falter as mediator quits

With the appointment of Ibrahima Fall as special envoy for the Great Lakes Region and head of the AU liaison office in Burundi, talks are expected to resume soon.

The opposition is calling for postponement of the elections until the political environment is conducive for a free and fair poll. The parliamentary vote is scheduled for June 29, and the presidential poll on July 15.

On Thursday, President Nkurunziza’s ruling party accused UN human-rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein of “conspiring with human-rights groups and the opposition to destabilise the country.”

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has issued several reports critical of the human rights situation in Burundi relying on accounts from opposition leaders and local and global rights groups.

A statement from CNDD-FDD accused Mr Hussein of conspiring with the opposition, and called on Bujumbura authorities to investigate his conduct and prosecute him in a “competent local or international court.”

“These false statements against millions of peaceful CNDD-FDD party members, who have resisted multiple provocations, should be seen as indications of a genocide project under preparation against members of the CNDD-FDD party,” the statement said.

“More than 40 people have been killed, 18 houses burnt and 174 guns stolen from the special brigade of research BSR,” the party said, asking why these murders were not reported by the UN human-rights chief.

At a recent summit in South Africa, the AU announced that it will send military experts to verify the process of disarming the militias and other armed groups.

The AU also called on authorities in Burundi to come up with a new poll date through consensus, saying it will only send an electoral observation mission if is satisfied with the political conditions in the country. But the government remains adamant that the poll date will not be moved again.

“We already postponed the elections as urged by the East African Heads of State Summit,” said Burundi government spokesman Filipe Nzobonariba.

A senior aide to President Nkurunzinza said postponing the elections could trigger a constitutional crisis, as the country should have a new president sworn in by June 26.

“Organising elections beyond the new dates would not favour a second round if needed,” said Gervais Abayeho.

Opposition leaders have rejected the new electoral dates claiming the Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) is not legally constituted.

“We don’t have CENI in the country now,” said Jean Minani, the chairman of the Frodebu Nyakuri party. “CENI can’t make a decision since it doesn’t meet the quorum,” he added.

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