Photo Credit: UN Refugee Agency
Thousands have fled Burundi due to insecurity fears in the run-up leading to the 26th June elections; most noteworthy of these being Judge Sylvere Nimpagaritse, the vice-president of Burundi’s constitutional court who noted that most of the judges had faced “enormous pressure and even death threats”.
At least 18 people have died and 100s injured in clashes resulting in the President’s announcement of a third term bid. In the latest news from Burundi, an “immediate and unconditional” government order to end protests against President Pierre Nkurunziza’s third term bid has met resistance. 2,000 people marched through one of the suburbs of the capital Bujumbura today.
The UN Refugee Agency noted 50,000 Burundians fled the country. UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards told journalists in Geneva that pre-election violence sent tens of thousands fleeing to neighbouring Rwanda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) “Many of these have crossed into Rwanda (25,004), but over the last week we have also seen a sharp increase in people seeking asylum in Tanzania (17,696) after entry restrictions there were lifted. In addition, almost 8,000 people have crossed into South Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In all these cases women and children, including a large number of unaccompanied children, are in the majority,” Edwards said.
East African leaders are set to hold a summit in Tanzania to discuss the Burundi situation. Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, who chairs the EAC, said in a statement late on Saturday “We have agreed to meet … to discuss how to help our brothers and sisters in Burundi to hold successful elections and ensure that their nation is united, peaceful and secure without any unnecessary conflicts”.