Police in the Burundian capital clashed on Sunday with small groups of protesters who had gathered to demonstrate against President Pierre Nkurunziza seeking a third term in office.
FRANCE 24’s special correspondent in Burundi described how a small demonstration turned violent, with police firing tear gas to disperse the protesters.
“It started off calmly but, as more people started to congregate and to push towards the police lines, the police started to fire tear gas and the protesters started to throw stones at the police” reported FRANCE 24’s Duncan Woodside.
A reporter for RFI, FRANCE 24’s sister radio station, tweeted pictures of protesters setting up makeshift barricades in the capital Bujumbura.
According to RFI’s Sonia Rolley, a protester was shot dead near Hope University when police used live ammunition to disperse the crowds. RFI later reported that a second protester had also died.
Local media reports added that several more people have been wounded in the capital, while several police have also been hurt in stone-throwing while trying to prevent thousands of youths from marching to the city centre.
‘Unconstitutional move’
One protester was shot in the arm and witnesses said two other demonstrators received gunshot wounds. At least seven anti-riot police were also injured in stone throwing.
The protests come the day after the ruling CNDD-FDD party — which has been accused of intimidating opponents — designated President Pierre Nkurunziza as its candidate for the June 26 presidential elections.
“[Protesters] are taking to the streets because they know that if the current leader is selected by the ruling party, he will almost certainly win the election in a context where the ruling party controls most of the country’s resources”, said FRANCE 24’s special correspondent in Burundi.
Opposition figures and rights groups say the move is unconstitutional and say the president’s effort to cling to power could push Burundi — which emerged from civil war in 2006 — back into violence.
FRANCE 24’s special correspondent in Burundi described how a small demonstration turned violent, with police firing tear gas to disperse the protesters.
“It started off calmly but, as more people started to congregate and to push towards the police lines, the police started to fire tear gas and the protesters started to throw stones at the police” reported FRANCE 24’s Duncan Woodside.
A reporter for RFI, FRANCE 24’s sister radio station, tweeted pictures of protesters setting up makeshift barricades in the capital Bujumbura.
According to RFI’s Sonia Rolley, a protester was shot dead near Hope University when police used live ammunition to disperse the crowds. RFI later reported that a second protester had also died.
Local media reports added that several more people have been wounded in the capital, while several police have also been hurt in stone-throwing while trying to prevent thousands of youths from marching to the city centre.
‘Unconstitutional move’
One protester was shot in the arm and witnesses said two other demonstrators received gunshot wounds. At least seven anti-riot police were also injured in stone throwing.
The protests come the day after the ruling CNDD-FDD party — which has been accused of intimidating opponents — designated President Pierre Nkurunziza as its candidate for the June 26 presidential elections.
“[Protesters] are taking to the streets because they know that if the current leader is selected by the ruling party, he will almost certainly win the election in a context where the ruling party controls most of the country’s resources”, said FRANCE 24’s special correspondent in Burundi.
Opposition figures and rights groups say the move is unconstitutional and say the president’s effort to cling to power could push Burundi — which emerged from civil war in 2006 — back into violence.
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