Thursday 14 May 2015

In Burundi President Nkurunziza's forces reportedly in control of capital



In the wake of the alleged coup in Burundi, and the resulting fight between President Pierre Nkurunziza's force and rival forces, soldiers loyal to Nkurunziza say they are now in control of key locations in the capital, Bujumbura.
Earlier on, there were fierce clashes in Bujumbura, particularly at the state radio office, but BBC reports that they are now said to have subsided.
5 soldiers are reported to have been killed in the clash.
Nkurunziza had been in Tanzania when the coup began on Wednesday and his whereabouts remain unconfirmed.
Since the address of the coup, there has been no new statement from the general who announced the coup.
Protests began in Burundi on 26th April when Mr Nkurunziza said he was seeking a 3rd term in office despite the fact that he had ruled the country since 2005 at the end of the 12-year civil war.
The coup was launched by Maj Gen Godefroid Niyombare, a former ally of the president, on Wednesday after Mr Nkurunziza travelled to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to attend a summit on the crisis.
However later in the day, both army chief of staff Gen Prime Niyongabo and President Nkurunziza said the coup attempt had been halted.

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