BURUNDI-POLITICS/PROTEST Burundi political crisis escalates as protesters burn vehicles

Record ID: 150157

  • Title: BURUNDI-POLITICS/PROTEST Burundi political crisis escalates as protesters burn vehicles
  • Date: 5th June 2015
  • Summary: BUJUMBURA, BURUNDI (JUNE 05, 2015) (REUTERS) CYCLISTS RIDING PAST BURNING VEHICLE VARIOUS OF VEHICLES ON FIRE PEOPLE GATHERED IN ROAD PEOPLE GATHERED NEXT TO BURNING VEHICLE (SOUNDBITE) (Swahili) DRIVER OF BURNOUT PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLE, (NO NAME GIVEN) SAYING: "I saw someone walking towards the vehicle and they spoke to me through the window, the next thing I saw was him
  • Embargoed: 20th June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Burundi
  • Country: Burundi
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVADNAHTLKSBA4ZIVNJY3VNBSJ24
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Opposition protesters in Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi, set fire to a public service vehicle on Friday (June 05), as protests against the country's president continue.
    The decision by Pierre Nkurunziza's to seek a third term in office, has plunged the nation into its worst crisis since an ethnically charged civil war ended in 2005. The protesters say his move violates the constitution, which sets a two-term limit.
    Local and parliamentary elections were due to be held on Friday ahead of a presidential vote on June 26, but Burundi's electoral body announced on Wednesday (June 03) they have been postponed in response to an appeal from African leaders. They made no mention of the presidential elections.
    Opposition demonstrations insist though they will continue their protests until Nkurunziza agrees not to run for office again. But for residents of Bujumbura the near-daily demonstrations and unrest are taking their toll.
    "I saw someone walking towards the vehicle and they spoke to me through the window, the next thing I saw was him setting the car on fire, I jumped out to reach out to him but then he touched his pocket and I thought he had a grenade and then he fled," explained the driver of one of the public vehicles, which had been set on fire.
    "We need to be strong, we need peace and security, we cannot continue like this," said another resident, Chance Kabangi.
    Nkurunziza has previously defended his decision to run again by citing a constitutional court ruling saying he can do so, but the government has also said it is open to the idea of postponing the poll schedule.
    The violence in Burundi has unnerved a region with a history of ethnic conflict.
    Burundi has the same ethnic mix of majority Hutus and a Tutsi minority as Rwanda, where a 1994 genocide killed 800,000 people, mostly Tutsis and moderate Hutus.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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