I wonder why many of these African leaders who assume power with 100 percent support of the people end up being the “anti-people”. There must be something in the psyche of an average African leader that gets them thinking upside down once they get to power.
This Burundian President has invited trouble into his country with his personal ambition, which to him must supersede the peace and interests of his country. If the news of this “coup-de-tat” is true, it should, (apologies for this) be supported by all democratic govertnments of the world. I am advocating this view, so these African leaders should know that hiding under “democracy” to rule autocratically or to cling on to powere forever, against the constitution is no longer accepted. I will also wish instead of calling this “coup-de-tat”, it should be labelled as “Take over of government” by the military general so as to rescue his country from imminent war or descent into trical chaos.
– Babajide
The news article below is culled from BBC News.
A Burundi army general says President Pierre Nkurunziza has been “overthrown”, amid unrest over his bid to be re-elected for a third term.
Maj Gen Godefroid Niyombareh said a salvation committee had been set up but his level of support is unclear.
Thousands protesting against the president in the capital, Bujumbura, are now reported to be celebrating.
President Nkurunziza is currently in Tanzania. The presidency’s Twitter site said the coup attempt had failed.
Mr Nkurunziza has been meeting other East African leaders to discuss the crisis. His aide dismissed the coup claims as “a joke”.
Latest Burundi and Africa updates
In a series of Twitter postings, the Burundi presidency at first said the situation was under control and that there was no coup, then that the attempted coup had failed.
‘Overthrown’
Gen Niyombareh, in a statement read to reporters in a military base, said he did not recognise the leadership because the president’s bid for a third term violated the constitution.
Soldiers surrounded the offices of the national broadcaster in Bujumbura.
President Nkurunziza is currently in Tanzania meeting other East African leaders
In a radio broadcast, Gen Niyombareh said: “The masses have decided to take into their own hands the destiny of the nation to remedy this unconstitutional environment into which Burundi has been plunged.
“The masses vigorously and tenaciously reject President Nkurunziza’s third-term mandate… President Pierre Nkurunziza has been relieved of his duties. The government is overthrown.”
Gen Niyombareh’s “national salvation committee” comprises at least five other army and police generals.
He said in the radio broadcast that the mission of the body was the “restoration of national unity… and the resumption of the electoral process in a peaceful and fair environment”.
One witness told Reuters news agency that crowds who had earlier been out on the streets of the capital protesting against the president were now cheering and celebrating his apparent dismissal.
Police were reported to have vanished from the streets.
The unrest began on 26 April and has led to the deaths of more than 20 people.
President Nkurunziza has rejected calls to postpone next month’s election.
Tens of thousands of Burundians have fled to neighbouring states in recent weeks.
Culled from BBCNews
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