The President of Burundi, President Pierre Nkurunziza has been advised to postpone the country’s June presidential elections to elect a new leader.
The plea was made by East African leaders after the East African Community Summit which was held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania over the weekend.
[contextly_sidebar id=”i4VoUXxjxq73YvDTvpAYAFHodMslhwkG”]A statement from the leaders said: “The summit, concerned at the impasse in Burundi, strongly calls for a long postponement of the elections not less than a month and a half.”
The summit was attended by Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania and Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya but President Pierre Nkurunziza failed to attend.
They were joined by South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma.
The East African leaders also called for an end to the violence which has engulfed the nation following President Nkurunziza’s decision to run for a re-election to secure a third term.
He argued that he is entitled to another term of office because he was first President to be appointed by Parliament in 2005.
Burundi’s constitutional court subsequently upheld his interpretation and has scheduled the country’s Parliamentary elections to take place on June 5 while the Presidential election is slated for June 26.
His decision has plunged the country into chaos and violence and led to several deaths including the murder of opposition leader, Zedi Feruzi.
The situation has forced about 90,000 citizens to flee to neighbouring countries.
A coup attempt by launched by a former ally of the President, Maj Gen Godefroid Niyombare while President Nkurunziza was attending a regional conference in Tanzania
He nonetheless returned to Burundi to reclaim the presidency.
A Burundi government spokesperson, Philippe Nzobonariba told AFP news agency that the government has welcomed the statement and is open to idea of delaying the elections.
By: citifmonline.com/Ghana