Court backs President Pierre Nkurunziza's 3rd term quest

onnaedo

May 5, 2015 2:57 PM

Reports say most of the court's judges thought the 3rd-term bid was unconstitutional, but they were under pressure to change their minds.

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Burundi president, Pierre Nkurunziza can now officially run for a 3rd term in office as he has received a go-ahead from the constitutional court.

According to BBC, under the Burundi constitution, presidents can only be elected to two terms in office but it was argued that his first term does not count as he was appointed by parliament.

Meanwhile, the court's vice-president has reportedly fled the country citing "death threats".

President Nkurunziza who is a former rebel leader, has been in power since 2005, after the end of the 12-year civil war in the country.

His 3rd-term bid has led to more than a week of deadly protests, as the Red Cross says that 12 people have died during the demonstrations and clashes between police and protesters while dozens have been left injured.

United Nations (UN) refugee agency, the UNHCR also reports that people are fleeing the country saying they "have experienced intimidation and threats of violence".

Over 20,000 people are reported to have left for neighbouring countries.

In the same vein, the African Union had expressed concern about the threat to stability caused by the third-term dispute even as the United States Secretary of State John Kerry urged Nkurunziza to abandon his re-election bid.

onnaedo