Burundi Government Declares Coup Plotters Wanted

By Yemi Adebowale

“There is no coup in Burundi,” the office of President Nkurunziza of Burundi said in a statement on its Twitter account shortly after news of a military coup d’état toppling his government.

@PierreNkurunziz and his high level delegation in Dar-Es-Salaam are discussing on how to handle the attempted coup in #Burundi

— Burundi | Présidence (@BdiPresidence) May 13, 2015

La situation est maitrisée, il n’y a pas de coup d’Etat au #Burundi

— Burundi | Présidence (@BdiPresidence) May 13, 2015

Nkurunziza is currently in neighboring Tanzania to attend a regional summit convened to discuss the crisis in Burundi.

Burundi’s former head of intelligence announced he has seized power after more than two weeks of protests sparked by President Pierre Nkurunziza’s plan to seek re-election.

“Burundian President Nkurunziza is no longer president,” Major-General Godefroid Niyombare said in a broadcast on state radio in the capital, Bujumbura, on Wednesday. “The government is dissolved, permanent secretaries of ministries will ensure” day-to-day business, he said.

The Burundi Government moments ago issued an official statement in French via the @BdiPresidence Twitter handle disclaiming the coup.

Communiqué de Presse : Coup d’Etat fantaisiste C’est avec regret que nous avons appris qu’un groupe de… http://t.co/vvd2uEnDCK

— Burundi | Présidence (@BdiPresidence) May 13, 2015

The statement originally in French reads:

“It is with regret that we have learned that a military group has mutinied this morning and made a statement of a coup d’ état. The Presidency of the Republic announced to the public, whether national or international, that this attempted coup d ‘état was foiled and that these people, who have read this news release coup d’ état via private local radio stations are wanted by the defence forces so that they are brought to justice. The Presidency of the Republic asked the burundian people and to foreigners living in Burundi to keep calm and serenity. Everything is implemented so that the security throughout the National Territory is maintained.”