Burundi's Nkurunziza Returns To Tanzania

Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza has been forced back to Tanzania after his plane was denied permission to enter Burundi's airspace.



"I can only confirm that his excellency, Pierre Nkurunziza, who left Dar es Salaam to return home, has returned to Dar es Salaam," Tanzanian government spokesman Assar Mwambene told Anadolu Agency late Wednesday.



He said Nkurunziza's plane had been denied permission to enter Burundi's airspace.



Nkurunziza is believed to be staying at Dar es Salaam's Serena Hotel.



An AA correspondent reported seeing extraordinary security measures at the hotel.



"No non-resident is allowed in," one security officer said, refusing to allow the reporter into the hotel.



Former intelligence chief Godefroid Niyombare on Wednesday ordered the closure of Burundi's national borders and the main airport in capital Bujumbura.



"This is a precautionary measure in anticipation of the return of President Pierre Nkurunziza from Tanzania," a military source told Anadolu Agency.



Earlier Wednesday, Niyombare announced the "dismissal" of Nkurunziza and his government amid ongoing anti-government protests that have paralyzed the country for almost three weeks.



The presidency, however, quickly tweeted that the coup attempt had failed, giving no further details.



Nkurunziza was in Tanzania to attend a meeting of the East African Community (EAC) – a five-state regional bloc of which Burundi is a member – to discuss the country's simmering political crisis.



The EAC leaders had condemned the coup attempt in Burundi and called for postponing elections in the country.



At least 22 people have been killed in protests and clashes since late April, when Nkurunziza announced plans to seek a third term in office.



Critics say a third-term run by Nkurunziza would violate the terms of the 2000 Arusha agreement, which – along with ending a Hutu-Tutsi civil war – stipulated that Burundi's president should not serve out more than two terms in office.



However, Burundi's Constitutional Court has ruled that Nkurunziza's third-term bid would not violate the country's national charter.



The court ruled that, since he was elected in 2005 by parliament and not by the people, Nkurunziza's first stint in office should not be counted as his first presidential term.



Nkurunziza, a former rebel leader, has been in power since 2005.



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