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High-Ranking Official From Burundi Says He Fled Country Over Safety Fears Burundi Students Enter U.S. Embassy as Political Tensions Escalate
(35 minutes later)
BUJUMBURA, Burundi — Burundi’s second vice president has said that he fled to Belgium last week because of concerns about his security, further sending the country into uncertainty. BUJUMBURA, Burundi — Dozens of Burundi students who had bivouacked outside the walled United States Embassy scrambled into the compound Thursday after the police sought to break up their encampment, escalating the political tensions that have roiled the central African country for months.
The official, Gervais Rufyikiri, is the third high-profile government figure to leave Burundi since President Pierre Nkurunziza announced his bid for a third term in April. News photographs from the scene taken by Agence France-Presse showed the students, who were seeking protection, scooting under the gates of the embassy grounds and clambering over the walls. Efforts to reach embassy staff members were not immediately successful.
The announcement by Mr. Nkurunziza touched off protests and a failed coup attempt in the central African country, resulting in nearly 70 deaths, with hundreds more wounded. More than 100,000 have fled to neighboring countries. Roughly 200 students had been camped outside the embassy, part of the resistance in Burundi to plans by President Pierre Nkurunziza to run for a third term despite constitutional limits. His plans, first announced in June, touched off protests, a failed coup attempt, nearly 70 deaths and hundreds of injuries. More than 100,000 people have fled to neighboring countries.
On Wednesday, Mr. Nkurunziza’s vice president, Gervais Rufykiri, left Burundi, the third high-profile government figure to vacate since the president first announced his plans for extending his term.
“I will go back if the situation improves,” Mr. Rufyikiri, who claimed that he was seeking medical treatment when he left Burundi, told the television channel France 24 on Wednesday.“I will go back if the situation improves,” Mr. Rufyikiri, who claimed that he was seeking medical treatment when he left Burundi, told the television channel France 24 on Wednesday.
Mr. Rufyikiri, a member of the governing National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy, had opposed the president’s re-election.Mr. Rufyikiri, a member of the governing National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy, had opposed the president’s re-election.
Legislative elections are scheduled for Monday, and presidential elections are set for July 15.Legislative elections are scheduled for Monday, and presidential elections are set for July 15.
On Thursday, nearly 200 students who had been camped for months outside the United States Embassy here in the capital stormed into the diplomatic compound when the local police tried to break their camp, Agence France-Presse reported.
The students held a peaceful sit-in with their hands raised in the air in response to demands by the police that they leave, the agency reported.