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A Burundi army soldier
riding in an armored vehicle raises his gun in the air as he joins
demonstrators celebrating what they perceive to be an attempted military coup
d'etat, in the capital Bujumbura, Burundi Wednesday, May 13, 2015. Police
vanished from the streets of Burundi's capital Wednesday as thousands of people
celebrated a coup attempt against President Pierre Nkurunziza. (AP
Photo/Berthier Mugiraneza)
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Sporadic gunfire is being heard in the Burundian capital, a
day after an army general announced he had ousted President Pierre Nkurunziza.
Loud explosions were also
heard Thursday in the center of Bujumbura, which has been the scene of unrest
and daily protests stemming from Nkurunziza’s controversial bid for a third
term.
Washington Post reports:
Thousands took to the
streets on Wednesday to celebrate after Maj. Gen. Godefroid Niyombare announced
on a private radio station that Nkurunziza had been relieved of his duties.
Nkurunziza was in
neighboring Tanzania for a summit on his country’s troubles at the time.
It remains unclear who is
running the country, with the military said to be divided between Nkurunziza
loyalists and those who back Niyombare.
Whereabouts Of
Burundi’s President Still Unclear
Burundi’s capital, Bujumbura, was quiet Wednesday night
following an attempted coup, but the whereabouts of President Nkurunziza
remain unclear.
The president was in
neighboring Tanzania Wednesday for a summit of East African leaders when an
army general announced that Nkurunziza had been overthrown.
This followed weeks of
violent protests against the president’s decision to run for a third term.
Interior Minister Edouard Nduwimana told VOA’s Central African Service that
President Nkurunziza had returned to Burundi, although he did not specify his
location.
But Innocent Muhozi,
general manager of the independent Renaissance Radio and Television, said
President Nkurunziza could not have returned to Burundi because the airport is
under the control of the coup makers.
“The capital city seems
to be very calm even though we heard some shooting a few minutes ago coming
from the international airport of Bujumbura. Those who made the coup seem to be
in control of most of the main places in the capital city except the public
radio and television,” he said.
Muhozi said the national
radio and television station appeared to be under the control of forces loyal
to President Nkurunziza, led by the minister of defense and the army chief of
staff.
He said it appears the
two sides are talking to each other, apparently to find a way out and avoid
shooting at each other.
“It means that there is
some mediation from some high ranking officers, including the minister of
defense and the chief of staff of the army. They seem to want to avoid
fighting,” Muhozi said.
Muhozi contradicts early
reports quoting Interior minister Edouard Nduwimana that President Nkurunziza
had returned to Burundi.
“We’ve been told that he
(Nkurunziza) tried to flee to Kampala but he came back to Tanzania. He was not
allowed to come in because the airport is under the country of those who made
the coup,” he said.
Muhozi said judging from
the popular support the coup makers received initially, it would be difficult
to say that the coup will fail.
“You should have seen how
the people in the capital were so happy to hear about this coup and the
demonstration of joy that they showed,” he said.
He said Burundians are
planning yet another big demonstration Thursday to show their support for the
coup.
Muhozi said it is unlikely
there be clashes between protesters and security forces because the police who
once used to beat protesters have been [driven] out by the army,” he said.
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