Burundi coup bid: President Nkurunziza’s return ‘thwarted’

Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza’s attempt to return home amid reports of a coup has failed and he has returned to Tanzania where he was attending a summit, officials there told the BBC.

The coup was announced by Maj Gen Godefroid Niyombare on Wednesday.

But its outcome remains unclear and the presidency insisted it had failed.

Heavy gunfire was heard early on Thursday morning near the radio and TV station in the capital, Bujumbura, Reuters news agency reports.

There has been mounting unrest in Burundi since President Nkurunziza, who came to power in 2005, announced he was seeking a third term in office – apparently in contravention of the constitution.

What’s behind the coup bid?

The loyalists still reportedly hold the presidential palace and main radio offices.

“The attempted coup by General Godefroid Niyombare has been stopped,” said armed forces chief General Prime Niyongabo said in a radio broadcast.

Earlier Gen Niyombare had ordered the closure of the airport to prevent Mr Nkurunziza’s plane from landing.

The UN and US urged all sides to show restraint.

In his earlier announcement of the coup, Gen Niyombare said he did not recognise the leadership because the president’s bid for a third term violated the constitution.

Gen Niyombare said in a radio broadcast: “The masses vigorously and tenaciously reject President Nkurunziza’s third-term mandate. President Pierre Nkurunziza has been relieved of his duties. The government is overthrown.”

Analysis: BBC Africa’s Venuste Nshimiyimana

The peace accord that brought an end to Burundi’s brutal 12-year ethnic civil war ensured that the future army would be split 50-50 between minority Tutsis and majority Hutus. This means that unlike the police, whose officers have been forceful in putting down the anti-third term protests, the army is regarded as a neutral force.

Nevertheless within the military there are internal divisions – with former Hutu rebels regarded as loyal to the ruling party and those in the old Tutsi-dominated army seen as loyal to the opposition.

The surprise about this coup declaration is that it comes from Gen Niyombare, once a close ally of the president. However, it is unclear whether the general, fired as intelligence chief in February, can command the loyalty of all soldiers.

A few hours later the Burundi presidency dismissed the coup attempt, saying: “It is with regret that we have learned that a group from the armed forces mutinied this morning and declared an imaginary coup.

“This coup attempt has been foiled and that these people, who read the coup announcement on the radio, are being hunted by defence and security forces so that they can be brought to justice.”

BBC