News / Africa
Burundian President ousted by army
13 May 2015 at 08:58hrs | Views
Reports say the Burundian army has declared it is taking control of Burundi in a radio announcement.
The coup d'etat was announced in a radio broadcast, with senior army generals saying they were deposing embattled President Pierre Nkurunziza, who is in Tanzania to meet leaders of the East Africa Community to discuss the recent violence that has rocked his country.
"President Pierre Nkurunziza is removed from office," said Godefroid Niyombareh who was fired by Nkurunziza as intelligence chief in February, in the radio announcement.
The EAC is made up of Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi.
Niyombareh announced a national salvation committee had been set up to run the country and said he is working with civil society and other groups on forming a transitional government.
"All people are asked to respect the lives and property of others," he added.
Military officers have been reported to be closing in on the Radio-Télévision nationale du Burundi (RTNB), the country's state broadcaster, as loyalists fired back to protect the building, which was under loyalist control.
As of 12.30pm GMT, the loyalists were still holding the building.
Meanwhile, Burundi's opposition leaders have denied being behind the coup.
Former rebel militia leader and presidential hopeful Agathon Rwasa said he did not know about the coup.
"I am discovering it now on the radio, just like you," he said from the capital Bujumbura. "Now, we will have to see what happens next."
A South African foreign ministry spokesman told Reuters "it's way too early to say" whether a coup had taken place in Burundi but added the situation was being closely monitored.
The coup d'etat was announced in a radio broadcast, with senior army generals saying they were deposing embattled President Pierre Nkurunziza, who is in Tanzania to meet leaders of the East Africa Community to discuss the recent violence that has rocked his country.
"President Pierre Nkurunziza is removed from office," said Godefroid Niyombareh who was fired by Nkurunziza as intelligence chief in February, in the radio announcement.
The EAC is made up of Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi.
Niyombareh announced a national salvation committee had been set up to run the country and said he is working with civil society and other groups on forming a transitional government.
"All people are asked to respect the lives and property of others," he added.
As of 12.30pm GMT, the loyalists were still holding the building.
Meanwhile, Burundi's opposition leaders have denied being behind the coup.
Former rebel militia leader and presidential hopeful Agathon Rwasa said he did not know about the coup.
"I am discovering it now on the radio, just like you," he said from the capital Bujumbura. "Now, we will have to see what happens next."
A South African foreign ministry spokesman told Reuters "it's way too early to say" whether a coup had taken place in Burundi but added the situation was being closely monitored.
Source - ZBC
