AFRICA/BURUNDI - Rifts in the presidential party and the army on Nkurunziza's third term

Monday, 6 July 2015

Bujumbura (Agenzia Fides) - Burundi seems more and more divided, as rifts appear even within the presidential party CNDD-FDD. "The President of the Assembly, Pie Ntavyohanyuma, and Vice President, Gervais Rufyikiri, both of the CNDD-FDD, who have fled abroad have written a letter to the East African Community (EAC), in which they reject the possibility of a third term for President Pierre Nkurunziza", say local sources from Bujumbura to Agenzia Fides, who have asked to remain anonymous for security reasons.
The EAC held a summit on the crisis in Burundi which, however, was deserted by Nkurunziza. "The situation is calm, but one feels the tension as we approach the date of the presidential elections of July 15", continues our source.
The local and parliamentary elections of June 29, boycotted by the opposition (see Fides 26/06/2015 and 01/07/2015) were declared by the UN marred by intimidation and violence. "The militia linked to the ruling party intimidated voters so they would go and vote despite the appeals of the opposition to boycott the vote" confirm our sources. "However, many voters did not vote and those who did voted against the ruling party". Four Catholic priests are among those who were threatened with death and forced to flee the country.
"There are also rifts in the army and police. 80% of the military are contrary to the third term of the incumbent President while among the police this percentage drops to 60%. Unfortunately there seems to be a willingness to resolve the crisis through violence, as threatened by former coup leaders (protagonists of the failed coup of May, see Fides 15/05/2015), who announced that if Nkurunziza does not go away voluntarily, they will throw him out militarily", concludes the source. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 06/07/2015)


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