A Burundi army general says senior officers are “dismissing” President Nkurunziza, amid unrest over his re-election bid.
Godefroid Niyombareh told reporters that a national salvation committee had been set up to run the country.
The statement was immediately dismissed as “a joke” by the president’s media adviser.
Major General Godefroid Niyombare, who was fired by Nkurunziza as intelligence chief in February, was speaking at a military barracks to reporters. He was surrounded by several other senior officers in the army and police.
“Regarding President Nkurunziza’s arrogance and defiance of the international community which advised him to respect the constitution and Arusha peace agreement, the committee for the establishment of the national concord decide: President Nkurunziza is dismissed, his government is dismissed too,” he said.
President Nkurunziza is currently at a summit in Tanzania discussing his decision to run for a third term, which critics say is unconstitutional.
Police fired tear gas and live ammunition on protesters on Wednesday. BBC/Reuters
