Burundi: General Declares Coup Against Nkurunziza

http://www.iwacu-burundi.org/
Major-General Godefroid Niyombare, who announced a coup in Burundi on Wednesday.
13 May 2015
allAfrica.com

A column of armed troops, trailed by a crowd of jubilant protesters, was heading for downtown Bujumburu after an apparent coup attempt, a local news outlet reported from the city on Wednesday.

Iwacu said two local radio stations had broadcast an announcement that Major-General Godefroid Niyombare - a former army intelligence chief - had deposed President Pierre Nkurunziza while he was away at a regional summit.

However, Reuters reported Nkurunziza's office as responding to the announcement by describing it as "a joke".

The army declared it is taking control of Burundi in a public radio announcement, according to International Business Times in the UK.

Senior army generals said they are dismissing President Pierre Nkurunziza, who is in Tanzania to meet East Africa Community leaders to discuss the violent protests in his country.

"Forces vive de la nation (allAfrica ed's note: Meaning "The activists of Burundi") have decided to take charge of the nation," Godefroid Niyombare, a former major general who was fired in April, reportedly said in the announcement.

Tagged:
Copyright © 2015 allAfrica.com. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 110 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.