Bujumbura, July 11 (IANS/EFE) The Burundian government announced that the presidential elections, scheduled for July 15, would be postponed indefinitely.
The government under President Pierre Nkurunziza on Friday said that the decision was based on a request from East African Community, or EAC, leaders, who on Monday called for delaying the elections until July 30.
Government spokesman Philip Nzobonariba explained that the date proposed by the EAC was not suitable, as the president must be elected at least a month before inauguration day, on August 26.
The government said it will set a new voting day “soon” and called on citizens to remain calm, in reference to the wave of violence that erupted when Nkurunziza announced his intention to amend the constitution in order to run for a third term.
Besides, the EAC, UN mediators and the African Union also suggested the election be postponed.
Ever since Nkurunziza announced his controversial candidacy, dozens of people have been killed and 100,000 have fled in fear of political repression, seeking refuge in Rwanda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
–IANS/EFE
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