Burundi Court Approves President’s Plan to Run for Re-election

Burundi’s constitutional court has cleared President Pierre Nkurunziza to run for a controversial third term.

The court said Tuesday the president could run again without violating the constitution, saying “renewal of the presidential term through direct universal suffrage” is permitted.

But the court’s deputy president rejected the ruling and fled to Rwanda. Sylvere Nimpagaritse told reporters his conscience would not allow him to sign a ruling that is unconstitutional.

Nkurunziza’s first term as president was the result of a parliamentary vote. The president’s supporters say he has served only one term as a result of winning a general election and should be eligible to run for reelection according to those terms.

Critics say Nkurunziza is violating the constitution and the 2000 Arusha peace accord that helped bring an end to Burundi’s civil war.

The president’s bid to extend his rule has sparked street protests in the capital, Bujumbura, that have resulted in clashes with police and at least 12 deaths.

Vice President Prosper Bazombanza said Tuesday that the government is willing to release the hundreds of protesters detained over the past 10 days, on the condition that the demonstrations stop.

The unrest has prompted at least 24,000 Burundians to flee to neighboring Rwanda since the unrest began April 26. Thousands more have gone to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Speaking in Kenya on Monday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the U.S. is “deeply concerned” about the Burundian president’s decision, which he said “flies directly in the face of the constitution.” [Read More]

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Source: VOA News: Labor


 

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