mchambawima1
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 16, 2014
- 2,487
- 738
- April 6: The AU Special Representative in Burundi, Boubacar Diarra, was kicked out of the country for his anti-3rd term stance.
- April 8: Few parties have registered for local elections by the April 8th
- April 9: A military officer is kidnapped from the vehicle of General Niyombare, the former Intelligence Chief who was sacked for his anti-3rdterm stance.
- April 10: The government extends the registration period for local elections.
- April 11: 10,000 CNDD-FDD supporters march in Bujumbura.
- April 13: Nkurunziza meets Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Huye District, Rwanda to discuss Burundian refugees.
- April 14: The number of Burundian refugees in Rwanda rises to 4,000.
- April 15: Planned opposition protests are largely thwarted by a large police presence in Bujumbura.
- April 15: The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid bin Ra’ad visits Burundi and says Burundi is at a “crossroads”. He also attends a roundtable discussion on human and elections partially organized by the ICGLR.
- April 15: The US State Department issues a statement welcoming the appointment of Arvin Boolell to be the new AU Special Representative to the Great Lakes.
- April 15: After meeting with Interior Minister Edouard Nduwimana, UNSG Ban ki-Moon expresses concerns about pre-election violence.
- April 15: The number of Burundian refugees in Rwanda rises to 6,000.
- April 17: Police disperse protests against a third term in Bujumbura with tear gas and water cannons. Some protesters throw rocks at police, and two policemen are injured.
- April 17: The US State Department releases a statement saying it is concerned by the number of Burundian refugees and the escalating situation.
- April 18: The UN Security Council releases a statement saying it would monitor the situation and called on all parties to remain peaceful.
- April 19: Burundi charges 65 protesters with rebellion following their participation in protests two days earlier.
- April 20: Senior cabinet officials inform the army that it may be called out to help deal with protests in the future.
- April 20: André Niyihangejeje, a staffer for Vice President Terence Sinunguruza and UPRONA member, is assaulted by the Imbonerakure.
- April 21: The nine parties that form the Participatory Opposition Coalition (COPA) nominate Jean de Dieu Mutabazi as its presidential candidate.
- April 21: The Burundian government and the EU sign an agreement on the EU’s election-monitoring mission.
- April 21: More than 200 students marched toward Mpimba Prison in Bujumbura to demand the release of two fellow students.
- April 21: The French and American militaries pull their military trainers(associated with AMISOM) out of Burundi, officially for vacation.
- April 23: Burundians in Cibitoke begin fleeing to the DRC following harassment and intimidation by the Imbonerakure.
- April 23: The Burundian government releases a statement saying portions of the Arusha Agreement are invalid.
- April 24: The Burundian government bans demonstrations.
- April 24: The number of Burundian refugees in Rwanda reaches 15,000.
- April 25: Senior CNDD-FDD officials nominate Nkurunziza to run for a third term with between 93-100% of the vote.
- April 26: Protests erupt in Bujumbura in reaction to Nkurunziza’s nomination. Between two and five people are killed and five injured by police. The government also threatens to shut down the RPA radio station.
- April 27: Further protests take place in Bujumbura and are met with police repression. The police occasionally fire live ammunition at protestors. Human rights activist Pierre-Claver Mbonimpa is arrested.
- April 27: The EU releases a statement calling for police restraint and free and fair elections.
- April 28: Protests continue for the third straight day with the overall death toll rising to six. Police blocked demonstrators from marching to the city center.
- April 28: Burundi’s government told international diplomats to remain neutral in the constitutional dispute between the CNDD-FDD and the opposition.
- April 28: Burundi’s most prominent independent radio station, RPA (Vice-President Joseph Ntakirutiman, a member of the CNDD-FDD, compared it to Radio Mille Collines) is shut down by the government. It also shut down Mansion de la Presse and banned live reporting on protests by Radio Isanganiro and Radio Bonesha FM.
- April 28: AU Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma applauds the Senate’s decision to allow the Constitutional Court to rule whether Nkurunziza can stand for reelection.
- April 28: The UNSG releases a statement urging investigation into lives lost in protests and a peaceful election process as US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Tom Malinowksi visits the country.
- April 28: The number of Burundian refugees in Rwanda reaches 23,000prompting Rwanda to scale-up relief operations.
- April 29: Protests continue for the fourth straight day, and become more concentrated in the Musaga neighborhood of Bujumbura, though they’re less intense than during previous days. In response, the government partially blocks social media in the capital. The death toll reaches seven, including two policemen.
- April 29: The Director General of the Police and the Chief of Staff of the Army read out a joint statement expressing unity.
- April 29: The French, Canadian, and Swiss government all release statements on the situation in Burundi.
- April 30: Protests continue in the Bujumbura neighborhoods of Cibitoke, Nyakabiga and Musaga, and protesters erect barricades. Protesters march toward the national road where police push them back.
- April 30: The Burundian Senate announces the Constitutional Court will decide the legality of Nkurunziza seeking a third term.
- April 30: Opposition leaders Agathon Rwasa (FNL) and Jean Minani (FRODEBU) state they will boycott elections if Nkurunziza stands for a third term.
- Mary 1: Protests continue in Bujumbura. A soldier is killed, allegedly by an intelligence officer. 15 civilians are wounded. Protesters from Musaga again attempt to march on downtown Bujumbura, but are stopped by police.Police say they have arrested almost 600 demonstrators since protests began.
- May 1: The Burundian government closes national universities forcing hundreds of students to take refuge outside the US embassy.
- May 1: In a speech to the nation, Nkurunziza warns protesters they will face severe sanctions.
- May 1: Protesters announce a 48-hour truce with the government to allow the sides to regroup and bury the dead.
- May 1: Russia and China block a French UNSC resolution on Burundi, with Russian U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin stating the UNSC shouldn’t intervene.
- May 1: The Office of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rightsexpresses its concern about violence in Burundi and reiterates the need for free and fair election.
- May 2: A spokesperson for Pierre Nkurunziza announces three people died, two of whom were police officers, and 17 were injured in two grenade attackson May 1st.
- May 3: Dozens of Burundian journalists mark International Press Freedom Day by demonstrating against the censuring of media in Bujumbura.
- May 3: Defense Minister General Pontien Gaciyubwenge announces the army will remain neutral a few hours after the Security Minister, General Gabriel Nizigama, announced a crackdown on protesters, calling them “terrorists”.
- May 3: The Army’s Chief of Staff pledges the military’s loyalty to the current authorities.
- May 4: Protests continue, and some demonstrators manage to reach downtown Bujumbura, where they are met by a mix live ammunition and non-lethal projectiles fired by police. Musaga continues to be a center of protest activity, and protesters erect further barricades as police look on. Protests also took place in Nyakabiga and Kinindo. Three protesters died.
- May 4: US Secretary of State John Kerry tells reporters that a third term for Nkurunziza would be unconstitutional.
- May 4: The Vice President of the Constitutional Court Sylvere Nimpagaritse flees to Rwanda citing pressures to confirm the constitutionality of Nkurunziza’s third term.