The social and political crisis that observers of Burundi had feared for months has now struck. Last Saturday, the CNDD-FDD nominated the current president of Burundi, Pierre Nkurunziza, as its presidential candidate. A few hours later, unrest burst out in the streets of Bujumbura, and second largest city, Gitega. At the time of publication, the protests were still on-going.
Protesters are mostly youths and students but their cause is shared by the political opposition, members of civil society, the powerful Burundian Catholic Church, and even former key members of the CNDD-FDD. All contest the legality of the president's candidacy. At least twelve people have already been killed and dozens of others injured and arrested in violence with the police.
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