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Burundi Students Enter U.S. Embassy as Political Tensions Escalate Burundi Students Enter U.S. Embassy as Political Tensions Escalate
(about 4 hours later)
BUJUMBURA, Burundi — Scores of students crawled under the gates and scaled the walls protecting the United States Embassy complex here on Thursday in a desperate escape from the local police who had moved in to clear their street encampment and clamp down on any antigovernment protests. BUJUMBURA, Burundi — Scores of students crawled under the gates and scaled the walls protecting the United States Embassy complex here on Thursday in a desperate attempt to escape from the local police, who had moved in to clear their street encampment and clamp down on antigovernment protests.
With United States Marines watching from the rooftop of an embassy building, the Burundi police had little choice but to stand by as about 200 students made it safely to the embassy parking lot, which is regarded as diplomatically protected property beyond the reach of the local authorities. With United States Marines watching from the roof of an embassy building, the Burundi police had little choice but to stand by as about 200 students made it safely to the embassy parking lot, which is regarded as diplomatically protected property beyond the reach of the local authorities.
As night fell, there were conflicting accounts about how many students were still on the embassy property, their precise whereabouts within the complex, and whether they would be given protection. A State Department spokesman in Washington said that about 100 students who had remained left the parking lot peacefully. As night fell, there were conflicting accounts about how many students were on embassy property, their precise whereabouts in the complex, and whether they would be given protection. State Department officials in Washington said that about 100 students had left the parking lot peacefully.
On the street outside the embassy at least some of the students said they had been ordered to leave after being told there was not enough space to accommodate so many people. On the street outside the embassy, some of the students said they had been ordered to leave after being told there was not enough space to accommodate so many people.
Those who left the embassy grounds wandered in the street with only the clothes they were wearing since the police had seized all their goods from the encampment, including most of their documents. Those who left the embassy grounds wandered in the street with only the clothes they were wearing because the police had seized all their goods from the encampment, including most of their documents.
The drama playing out at the embassy further escalated an already-tense situation in this impoverished central African nation that is still trying to recover from decades of civil war and ethnic violence. The drama playing out at the embassy further escalated an already tense situation in this impoverished central African nation, which is still trying to recover from decades of civil war and ethnic violence.
Ever since President Pierre Nkurunziza announced his intention in April to run for a third term despite constitutional term limits, this country has been rocked by protests, hundreds of people have been arrested, thousands have fled the country and scores have been killed. Ever since President Pierre Nkurunziza announced his intention in April to run for a third term despite constitutional term limits, the country has been rocked by protests, hundreds of people have been arrested, thousands have fled the country and scores have been killed.
A coup attempt failed and the government has forcefully clamped down on all dissent. A coup attempt failed, and the government has forcefully clamped down on all dissent.
One hotbed for opposition was the college campus in the capital, and it was ordered shut down in late April. One hotbed for opposition was the college campus here in the capital, and it was ordered shut down in late April.
For weeks, roughly 500 students have been bivouacked outside the American Embassy, hoping that the proximity to the protected complex would offer some protection. For weeks, roughly 500 students have been bivouacked outside the embassy, hoping that the proximity to the complex would offer protection.
But on Wednesday, according to one of the student leaders, the police declared at 7 a.m. that they had 24 hours to disperse or else they would be made to move by force. But on Wednesday, according to one of the student leaders, the police declared at 7 a.m. that the students had 24 hours to disperse or they would be made to move by force.
About 200 students decided to defy the ultimatum.About 200 students decided to defy the ultimatum.
“I would rather die here in front of the United States Embassy than die on my campus,” one student said.“I would rather die here in front of the United States Embassy than die on my campus,” one student said.
After the deadline passed on Thursday, dozens of police officers descended on the encampment. After the deadline passed on Thursday, dozens of police officers descended. Things quickly turned chaotic. Some students crawled under a gap in the fence in front of the embassy, and others clambered over the walls.
Things quickly turned chaotic, with some students crawling under a gap in the fence in front of the embassy and others clambering over the walls.
The Burundi government and the police could not immediately be reached for comment. But an account of the confrontation on state radio confirmed that police officers had been sent to enforce the ultimatum.The Burundi government and the police could not immediately be reached for comment. But an account of the confrontation on state radio confirmed that police officers had been sent to enforce the ultimatum.
“When the police invaded the premises where those students were accommodated, students ran away and took refuge in the office of the American Embassy,” the account said. “The police took luggage and effects of those students.”“When the police invaded the premises where those students were accommodated, students ran away and took refuge in the office of the American Embassy,” the account said. “The police took luggage and effects of those students.”
Rodney D. Ford, spokesman for the Bureau of African Affairs at the State Department, said in an email that when the police arrived, “the students dispersed from the site in an orderly manner and some entered the Embassy’s visitor parking lot.” Rodney D. Ford, spokesman for the Bureau of African Affairs at the State Department, said in an email that when the police arrived, “the students dispersed from the site in an orderly manner and some entered the embassy’s visitor parking lot.”
One hundred “peacefully remain in the visitor parking lot of the U.S. Embassy, which is outside of the walls of the Embassy.” Mr. Ford added, “None of the students are in the Embassy compound; the students are located in a parking lot outside the Embassy compound.” One hundred students “peacefully remain in the visitor parking lot of the U.S. Embassy, which is outside of the walls of the embassy,” Mr. Ford said. “None of the students are in the embassy compound.” A few hours later, Mr. Ford wrote in an update, “The students have peacefully departed from the embassy’s visitor parking lot.”
A few hours later, Mr. Ford wrote in an update that “the students have peacefully departed from the Embassy’s visitor parking lot.” Asked about the episode at a daily news briefing in Washington, the State Department’s spokesman, John Kirby, said the students had been peaceful. “There’s also been no effort to forcibly make them, you know, move from the visitors parking lot,” he said.
There was more violence across the capital city on Thursday as well, with at least one grenade attack on a local shop. In recent days, four people have been killed and 30 wounded in a wave of grenade attacks, according to the police. There was more violence across the capital on Thursday, with at least one grenade attack on a shop. Four people have been killed and 30 wounded in a recent wave of grenade attacks, the police said.
One attack struck a bar in Ngozi, the hometown of Mr. Nkurunziza. Eleven police officers were reported wounded in simultaneous grenade attacks in Bujumbura. One attack struck a bar in Ngozi, Mr. Nkurunziza’s hometown. Eleven police officers were reported wounded in grenade attacks in Bujumbura. On Wednesday night, the Voice of America correspondent in Bujumbura, Diane Nininahazwe, said a grenade had been lobbed at her home. Nobody was injured.
“It is clear that all these grenade attacks are related to each other, this is a terror campaign organized by opponents of the president,” Agence France-Presse quoted a senior police officer as saying. “It is clear that all these grenade attacks are related to each other,” Agence France-Presse quoted a senior police officer as saying. “This is a terror campaign organized by opponents of the president.”
Mr. Nkurunziza’s government was also dealt a political blow when his vice president, Gervais Rufyikiri, who left last week for what he described as medical treatment in Belgium, decided not to return and to vacate his office. He was the third high-profile government figure to step down since the president first announced his plans for extending his term. Mr. Nkurunziza’s government was also dealt a political blow when his vice president, Gervais Rufyikiri, who left last week for what he described as medical treatment in Belgium, decided on Wednesday not to return and to vacate his office. He was the third high-profile figure to step down since the president said he would seek another term.
“I will go back if the situation improves,” Mr. Rufyikiri told the television channel France 24 on Wednesday. “I will go back if the situation improves,” Mr. Rufyikiri told the television channel France 24.
Mr. Rufyikiri, a member of the governing party, was among those who had opposed the president’s re-election. Mr. Rufyikiri, a member of the governing party, was among those who 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 the presidential vote is set for July 15.