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.

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