AFRICA/BURUNDI - Difficult negotiations between the government and opposition to overcome the political crisis

Bujumbura (Agenzia Fides) - Protests in Burundi against incumbent President Pierre Nkurunziza, who intends to stand for election on 26 June for a third term, continues. "So far we have counted fifteen dead in recent clashes between police and demonstrators" say local sources to Agenzia Fides from the capital Bujumbura, where the movement of people and vehicles is reduced. "Some offices are open but only for a few hours. Only 30-40 percent of the vehicles circulate", the sources told Fides.
"The President's party and the opposition have begun negotiations to overcome the crisis, but both parties remain firm in their positions.
The opposition and civil society firmly reject the idea of a third term for the President. The ruling party insists that its only candidate is outgoing President", say our sources.
Meanwhile, the population continues to flee the Country for fear of resumption of a civil war. "According to official figures, 25,000 Burundians have arrived in Rwanda, 12,000 in Tanzania and 8000 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, for a total of more than 40,000 Burundian refugees welcomed in neighboring States" said the sources.
"Even within Burundi there is a strong movement of displaced people, from city to city, and in Bujumbura, from one district to another – say Fides sources -. Ethnic tension between Hutus and Tutsis seem to have started, but this is just a pretext. The crisis is political. Although the President is Hutu, there are several important Hutu-based parties that are opposed to his re-election for a third term". (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 08/05/2015)