Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bujumbura (Agenzia Fides) - "We visited at least six suburbs where demonstrations continue, but the police have created barriers with tires and old cars have been set on fire, to prevent demonstrators from entering the city center", say local sources from Bujumbura to Agenzia Fides, where there are protests against the candidacy of incumbent President Pierre Nkurunziza, regarding the June elections, in violation of the Constitution which provides only two presidential terms (see Fides 27/04/2015).
"Yesterday tear gas were launched against us and the police also fired in the air in an attempt to disperse the demonstrations. Offices and schools in Bujumbura are closed, except for the military school and the Major Seminary", add our sources that for security reasons have asked to remain anonymous.
A bloody civil war between Hutu and Tutsi ended a few ago in Burundi. According to Fides sources, "the President is saying that the problem of Burundi is ethnic, but it is false. The same opposition parties claim that this is not true, because the problem is at a political level".
In this context the spread of rumors on the arrival of militias linked to power in Bujumbura, as our sources report is alarming. "Last night the army sent patrols in different neighborhoods to reassure the people after rumors concerning the presence of militias linked to the party in power had circulated, reinforced by others from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, who are thinking of killing those who oppose the third term of the President". "The police have denied these rumors, but the concern remains" concludes the source of Fides. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 28/04/2015)
