International Crisis Group

Burundi Standoff Threatens Central African Stability |  Heidi Vogt

NAIROBI, Kenya—A standoff in Burundi between protesters and a president trying to flout constitutional term limits is threatening to destabilize a precarious part of Central Africa.

In the nearly two weeks since Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza said he would run for a third term, the capital Bujumbura has erupted into violent protests, leaving about a dozen people dead. Nearly 40,000 Burundians have fled the country since mid-April because of pre-election intimidation, the United Nations said.

“If this crisis lasts, it is going to trigger a new refugee crisis in the region and with the refugees come also the armed groups on the borders,” said Thierry Vircoulon, head of Central Africa for Brussels-based think tank International Crisis Group.

FULL ARTICLE (via The Wall Street Journal)

Photo: EA Official/ Flickr

Source: The Wall Street Journal