Burundi commemorates coup anniversary as unrest grows

Burundi has marked its first anniversary of the failed coup led last year by General Godefroid Nyombare who still remains at large.

Following the attempted coup, security forces loyal to President Pierre Nkurunziza crushed the rebellion and made several arrests among them three ex-army generals – former defence minister Cyrille Ndayirukiye, Zenon Ndabaneze and Juvenal Niyungeko – and one police general, Hermenegilde Nimenya.

The four ex-generals were sentenced to life in prison for the failed coup, with nine others jailed for 30 years for their role in the unrest in the troubled central African country.

More than 450 people have been killed in Burundi since Nkurunziza announced his candidacy in April 2015 for a third term which he subsequently won.

Despite his re-election last July, rights activists have accused Nkurunziza of violating the Constitution and the Arusha agreement that ended the civil war between 1993 and 2006.

But Nkurunziza’s camp said a court ruling had declared the former rebel-turned-president eligible to seek another term.

Efforts to end fighting have not borne fruit despite repeated calls by the United Nations, the African Union and regional neighbours raising fears of a return to ethnically charged violence of civil war.

On its anniversary, we again condemn the failed coup in Burundi and violence by all sides. Only peaceful EAC dialogue will resolve crisis.

— U.S. Special Envoy (@US_SEGL) May 13, 2016

AFP