Protests in Burundi

Violent antigovernment protests swept Burundi after President Pierre Nkurunziza announced, on April 25, that he planned to run for a third term in June elections. At least 12 people were killed.

Nkurunziza and his supporters say he can legally run for a third term, something that Burundi’s constitution rejects, because he was appointed by parliament for his first term, not elected. Burundi’s Senate has asked the Constitutional Court to rule on the matter. 

Most of the violence has occurred in the capital, Bujumbura, where protesters have clashed with police and armed forces.