KAMPALA-Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza was on Wednesday reported ousted in a coup led by General Godefroid Niyombareh but his close aides dismissed the news.
The announcement came as Mr Nkurunziza had travelled to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to meet with regional leaders in an effort to find a solution to violent protests that broke out against his bid to stand for a third term.
“Active forces of the nation have decided to take charge of the country. President Pierre Nkurunziza is removed from office,” Mr Niyombareh, was quoted as having said in a radio address.
However, a statement by the Burundian presidency dismissed the news of the coup d’etat. “It is with regret that we learned that a group of soldiers mutinied this morning and announced a coup.
The presidency of the republic informs national and international community that this attempted coup was foiled and that these people, who read the coup via private local radio stations are sought by defence and security forces so that they are brought to justice. The presidency of the republic asks the Burundian population and foreigners to keep peace and serenity,” read the statement in part.
Civilians took to the streets of Bujumbura in celebration, and could be seen running alongside armoured vehicles and soldiers. The situation in the capital was reported calm amid heavy military deployment.
Burundi’s opposition leaders were quoted as having denied involvement in the coup attempt.
Former rebel militia leader and presidential hopeful Agathon Rwasa told IBTimes UK he did not know about the coup. “I am discovering it now on the radio, just like you,” he said. “Now, we will have to see what happens next.”
Mr Pacifique Nininahazwe, a civil society activist and protest leader, also told IBTimes UK from Bujumbura that a coup has been likely as soon as the government started using force against protesters.
“The coup d’etat was expected, as it happened in Tunisia, Burkina Faso, when heads of state used security forces to quell the protests,” Mr Nininahazwe said. “In the end, an element of the army neutralises the head of state.”
However, Mr Nininahazwe, the head of the Forum for Conscience and Development advocacy group, warned Mr Nkurunziza’s militia could “commit atrocities at any given moment”.
“The President is in Tanzania but I think he has planned a resistance against the coup. He has many of his men there, many of the Generals of the army are loyal to him and he has the Imbonerakure (militia forces) on his side. We expect a lot of violence in the coming hours. The Imbonerakure who were formed in DRC have not been neutralised, they are swarming around towns. I think we will face very serious violence.”
A special Summit convened by East African Community (EAC) Chairman and Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete to seek an amicable solution to the Burundi crisis ended prematurely following the coup news.
However, the Summit also attended by Ms Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the chair of the African Union Commission condemned the coup and called for a return to constitutional order.
Presidents Jakaya Kikwete, Paul Kagame and Uhuru Kenyatta addressed the media and said the coup would not be the right solution to end crisis.
“The summit condemns the coup in Burundi, it does not solve problems in Burundi,” President Kikwete said. “We call upon the return to the constitutional order.”
The EAC leaders called for an extension of the planned election until the situation inside Burundi calms.
President Kikwete, who was the convener of the aborted summit, announced the meeting will reconvene in two weeks to continue with the push for a solution.
“We will meet again to continue with the efforts to end the crisis and during that meeting we will take appropriate action on Burundi,” Mr Kikwete told journalists.
Hours after the news of the coup, foreign powers such as the US and Belgium, who have been critical of the events in Burundi, were conspicuously silent.
Burundi president was late last evening reported to have returned to Serena Hotel in Dar es Salaam after an aborted flight to Bujumbura. The hotel was immediately put under a heavy security cordon.
Gen Niyombare had earlier ordered Bujumbura airport closed to stop the president’s returning.
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