Bujumbura, Burundi | AFP | Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza has died of heart failure, the government said Tuesday, after the former rebel chief spent 15 often turbulent years in power. An evangelical who believed he was chosen by God to rule the East African nation, Nkurunziza took office in 2005, …
Read More »Burundi’s Pierre Nkurunziza dead
Bujumbura, Burundi | AFP | Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza has died of heart failure, the government said Tuesday. “The Government of the Republic of Burundi announces with great sadness the unexpected death of His Excellency Pierre Nkurunziza, President of the Republic of Burundi… following heart failure on June 8, 2020,” it …
Read More »Burundi First Lady hospitalised in Nairobi
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Burundi’s first lady was in hospital in Nairobi on Friday, after being flown in on a late-night medical flight, according to sources at the airport and in the presidency. First lady Denise Bucumi was flown out of Burundi on a Pilatus plane by the AMREF air ambulance service, according to …
Read More »Burundi opposition takes poll dispute to constitutional court
Bujumbura, Burundi | AFP | Burundi’s main opposition party on Thursday filed its submission to the Constitutional Court to contest the results of a presidential election it alleges was riddled with fraud and irregularities. On Monday the electoral commission announced that ruling party candidate Evariste Ndayishimiye had won the vote with …
Read More »Burundi ruling party candidate Ndayishimiye wins election
Bujumbura, Burundi | AFP | Burundi’s ruling party presidential candidate Evariste Ndayishimiye on Monday was declared the victor of the bitterly disputed election, with 68.72 percent of the vote. The election commission, which released the official results live on Burundian media, said that his main opposition rival Agathon Rwasa of the National Freedom Council (CNL), …
Read More »Burundi expected to announce Ndayishimiye next president
Bujumbura, Burundi | AFP | Burundi’s election commission is expected Monday to declare Evariste Ndayishimiye the country’s next president, with all signs showing the ruling party’s candidate on track for victory following last week’s poll. The National Independent Electoral Commission will unveil the outcome of the presidential and legislative races at …
Read More »Burundi holds election amid virus
Many were surprised that Nkurunziza would step aside after a referendum in 2018 extended the presidential term to seven years | THE INDEPENDENT | Burundi held a peaceful on May 20 to pave way for President Pierre Nkurunziza to step aside but fear remains that disputes over results could lead …
Read More »Burundi opposition leader rejects ‘fantasy’ early poll results
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Burundi’s main opposition leader has rejected early signs the ruling party is heading for victory in this week’s general election, describing the results from 12 percent of municipalities as “fantasy.” “Absolutely I reject these results. These results being declared are a fantasy. They do not reflect …
Read More »In Burundi, abuses persist in the shadows: rights groups
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Three years after fleeing persecution in Burundi for refuge in Tanzania, Jean Magorwa returned home, lured by assurances of peace and reconciliation. His family have not heard from him since, and are convinced he is dead. Rights groups say Magorwa is a victim of the political …
Read More »Burundi: five years of political crisis
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Burundi, which elects its president on May 20, has been mired in a political crisis since the last election in 2015, at the cost of 1,200 lives. The violence, sparked by opposition to Pierre Nkurunziza’s bid for a third presidential term, stoked fears of a return …
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