Burundi president reportedly overthrown in military coup

onnaedo

May 13, 2015 1:25 PM

Major Niyombareh announced that a national salvation committee had been set up to run the country.

Reports coming out of Burundi state that President Pierre Nkurunziza has reportedly been overthrown in a coup plot.

BBC reports that Burundi army general, Major General Godefroid Niyombareh says senior officers are "dismissing" President Nkurunziza, amidst unrest over his 3rd term re-election bid.

It is however, unclear how much support he and the other officers have.

Meanwhile, President Nkurunziza is currently in Tanzania meeting other East African leaders to discuss the crisis in his country, while his aide has dismissed the coup reports as "a joke".

Earlier today, police opened fire on protesters who are protesting against Nkurunziza's 3rd term re-election bid.

In addition to other African leaders, the West had also called on him to step down and withdraw his 3rd term bid, a call he refused to heed.

onnaedo