Burundi’s president seeks ‘unconstitutional’ third term

Burundi’s president was Saturday declared as the ruling party’s candidate for a third term in office, despite mounting protests over a move the opposition says is unconstitutional.Opposition figures warned that President Pierre Nkurunziza’s effort to cling to power could push the central African nation back into violence.They also vowed to defy a nationwide ban on demonstrations and warnings the army could be deployed. The country, situated in Africa’s troubled Great Lakes region, only emerged from civil war in 2006.There was tight security as the ruling CNDD-FDD — which has been accused of intimidating opponents —opened a special party congress on Saturday, during which Nkurunziza was officially designated as the party’s candidate.“We wish to announce to the national and international community that the member who has been selected to represent us in the elections is Pierre Nkurunziza,” the head of the ruling CNDD-FDD party, Pascal Nyabenda, announced after a party meeting.He said Nkurunziza “has the right to be elected” to a third term in the June 26 presidential elections.Opposition groups say this violates the constitution as well as the peace deal that ended the civil war.Nkurunziza, a former rebel leader, born-again Christian and football fanatic, has already served two terms as president.“This third candidacy is illegal, it violates the constitution,” said Rights activist Pierre-Claver Mbonimpa, president of Burundi’s influential campaign group Aprodeh.“We will demonstrate from tomorrow (Sunday) morning, in silence and without breaking anything,” he said, insisting that only peaceful protests are planned.Ex-rebel turned politician Agathon Rwasa, an opponent of the president, said Nkurunziza “risked plungingBurundi into chaos”.