In the latest in a series of protests against Burundi’s president, hundreds of women took to the streets of the capital Bujumbara on Sunday calling on him to step down.
They claim Pierre Nkurunziza’s bid to run for a third term in office in June’s election is unconstitutional – and flouts a peace deal struck after the civil war ended in 2005.
“We are tired. We want peace. We want the respect of our nation and our legal text. Our constitution is sacred. So are the Arusha Peace Accords. They brought us a peace after ten years of war, in which we lost our sons and daughters. We don’t want that any more,” said protester Ketin Vyabandiyaya.
The constitution limits the president to two terms in office but he argues the first doesn’t count as he was chosen by parliament, not elected by the people.
The constitutional court has backed his bid to run again and the president registered with the electoral commission on Friday, defying calls from the international community for him to step
