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African Union (AU) chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on Sunday called on the authorities in Burundi to exercise restraint against the background of a wave of violent protest sparked by President Pierre Nkurunziza's candidacy for a third term.
"I urge authorities in Burundi to exercise the highest restraint and protect the population in reaction to the third-term candidacy announcement," Dlamini-Zuma said on Twitter.
"Political actors must use appropriate channels to seek redress in grievances, including disputes on elections. Violence begets violence," she added.
At least two protesters were killed Sunday in clashes with Burundian police during demonstrations against an announcement by the ruling National Council for the Defense of Democracy to field Nkurunziza as its candidate for the upcoming presidential election, which is slated for June.
The AU chief called on all stakeholders to respect the 2000 Arusha agreement, which ended the civil war between Hutu and Tutsi tribes.
The war left hundreds of thousands of people dead behind. Under the agreement, the president should serve no more than two terms.
Pacifique Nininahazwe, a leading Burundian civil society figure, told The Anadolu Agency earlier that as soon as Nkurunziza announces his candidacy, "we will hit the streets in protest."
On March 20, Nkurunziza proposed a constitutional amendment that would allow him to run for a third presidential term, sparking a major controversy in the central African nation.
Despite the rejection of the proposal by the Burundian parliament, the law stipulates that a bill could be brought once again before parliament for a second round of voting, which gives Nkurunziza another opportunity to pass the amendment before the upcoming elections.
www.aa.com.tr/en - Addis Ababa
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