Celebrations in Burundi as army general attempts coup against president
- 9 years ago
People in Burundi are out on the streets celebrating the news an army general has attempted to carry out a coup against the country’s leader.
President Pierre Nkurunziza is out of the country, attending a summit of East African leaders in Tanzania.
Demonstrations had been taking place for weeks over the president’s plans to run for a third five-year term.
“President Pierre Nkurunziza has been relieved of his duties, the government has been dissolved,” said the leader of the attempted coup, Major General Godefroid Niyombare.
“Permanent secretaries will have minimal duties in their ministries. We demand that all regional commanders of the military, regional commissioners and all governors work hand in hand with us to reinforce the security for all the citizens of Burundi.”
One man in the capital said: “I am very happy to see that we have managed to remove the president, who tried to change the constitution.
“After all the conflicts in the past, he wanted a third mandate so
President Pierre Nkurunziza is out of the country, attending a summit of East African leaders in Tanzania.
Demonstrations had been taking place for weeks over the president’s plans to run for a third five-year term.
“President Pierre Nkurunziza has been relieved of his duties, the government has been dissolved,” said the leader of the attempted coup, Major General Godefroid Niyombare.
“Permanent secretaries will have minimal duties in their ministries. We demand that all regional commanders of the military, regional commissioners and all governors work hand in hand with us to reinforce the security for all the citizens of Burundi.”
One man in the capital said: “I am very happy to see that we have managed to remove the president, who tried to change the constitution.
“After all the conflicts in the past, he wanted a third mandate so