Burundi president delays municipal, legislative elections

Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza has postponed municipal and legislative elections, originally scheduled for May 26, by 10 days according to a decree issued on Wednesday, Spanish news agency Efe reported.

However, the order made no mention of the presidential elections scheduled for June 26, in which Nkurunziza intends to run for a third, unconstitutional bid, which in recent weeks spurred mass protests and an attempted military coup.

Communal council and National Assembly elections have been moved to June 5, extending the election campaigns to June 2.

On April 25, the National Council for the Defence of Democracy announced that Nkurunziza would stand in the June presidential to seek a third term, even though the constitution limits presidency to two terms of five years.

 

The decision triggered a wave of violent protests that killed at least 20 civilians and 12 soldiers, accused of participating in the failed coup against the president last week.