News of a coup in Burundi took over the media world on Wednesday, April 13, 2015. Now one of the generals who participated in the coup has said that he recognises that their attempt to overthrow the president and stop his third term bid has failed.
The General Cyrille Ndayirukiye, while speaking with AFP news agency that most of the military officials in the country wanted the present government’s administration. At least five soldiers were killed in the clashes that happened in the nation’s capital, Bujumbura on Thursday, May 14.
Major General Godefroid Niyombare who reportedly started the coup is nowhere to be found as it is. Many citizens of Burundi took to the streets to celebrate the news that President, Pierre Nkurunziza, had been overthrown was announced on national radio. President Nkurunziza was in Tanzania for a summit when the attempted coup took place.
The coup which came following the President’s declaration of a third term bid that led to weeks of protests that caused thousands of people to flee the country. While the military claim to be in control of the national TV and radio stations as well as city’s airport, reports claim that the streets are controlled mainly by loyalist police.
Quite a number of the military said that the number of troops supporting the coup have dwindled considerably and this follows with General Ndayirukiye admission that the coup has failed. “Personally, I recognise that our movement has failed,” he said, according to AFP. “We were faced with an overpowering military determination to support the system in power,” he added.
BBC reports that General Niyombare is “still on the run“, according to a presidential spokesperson. The general was reported to have said he and his followers were going to surrender hoping that they won’t be killed.
Former defence minister, General Ndayirukiye is one of the three coup leaders who have been arrested Friday, May 15, 2015, said the Presidentila spokesperson, Gervias Abayeho. “If they are found to be among the coup leaders they will have to face justice.”
Only a small section of the army was reported to have been a part of the coup. He denied any division in the army.
President Nkurunziza is back in the country and tweeted: “I thank the army and police for their patriotism. Above all I thank Burundians for their patience.”
Je suis au #Burundi. Je félicite l'armée et la police pour leur patriotisme. Je félicite surtout les burundais pour leur patience.
— Pierre Nkurunziza (@pnkurunziza) May 14, 2015
Gervais Abayeho, the spokesman for the President has also confirmed that he is back in the country and that elections would continue as planned. “The president is in a good mood, he doesn’t see any problem at all. He’s been elected by the people, he’s going to run again.” The president is expected to make a national address.
