A Timeline of Events in Burundi (Part 5)

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• May 20: Tom Malinowski and government spokesperson Willy Nyamitweengage in a twitter exchange over the behavior of the Burundian government.
• May 20: In a televised address to the country, Nkurunziza asks for ethnic harmony and for refugees to return and pledges an enquiry into what happened at Bumerec hospital.
• May 20: Speaking to the BBC, Agathon Rwasa says he supports a street revolution over a coup, but if Nkurunziza does not leave he will be forced out.
• May 20: Belgium comes out against a third term for Nkurunziza.
• May 21: Heavy gunfire is reported overnight in Musaga. Protests continue in Bujumbura and two protesters die.
• May 21: MSF assesses refugees in Tanzania and deems it a “critical humanitarian situation”.
• May 21: Nkurunziza is pictured playing soccer.
• May 22: Two grenade attacks kill three people and injure 40 in a Bujumbura market.
• May 22: The US announces it will cease training for Burundian troops participating in UNPKO’s.
• May 23: Zedi Feruzi, the leader of the opposition UPD, is assassinated in Bujumbura.
• May 24: Ban Ki-moon condemns Feruzi’s assassination.
• May 24: Prominent activists announce they are suspending dialogue with the government following Feruzi’s death.
• May 24: ICGLR leaders condemn Feruzi’s assassination and other violence and call for an investigation into the assassination.
• May 25: Police kill one demonstrator and injure two others in Muyange, Buriri Province.
• May 25: Nkurunziza calls for an investigation into Feruzi’s death.
• May 25: The State Department releases a statement calling for an investigation into Feruzi’s death and respect for freedom of assembly.
• May 25: Agathon Rwasa says Burundi is not ready for elections in June.
• May 25: The Burundian government delays the Presidential election, scheduled for May 26, to June 6.
• May 26: The government appeals to the public to help elections.
• May 26: UNHCR slashes the number of Burundian refugees from over 100,000 to 72,618.
• May 26: France suspends security cooperation with Burundi.
• May 27: Burundi’s main opposition parties issued a joint statement saying fair election were impossible.
• May 27: The US releases $8m to Burundian refugees.
• May 28: A teenage protester is killed in Bujumbura.
• May 28: The EU withdraws its election observers.
• May 28: Burundi’s Roman Catholic Church says it can no longer support the elections and withdraws its officials from election-related work.
• May 28: UN Special Adviser for the Prevention of Genocide Adama Dieng arrives in Burundi.
• May 29: FNL leader Agathon Rwasa says his party will boycott the national elections.
• May 29: Two separate grenade attacks happen in downtown Bujumbura, and one child is hurt. Police also kill a demonstrator in Buterere.
• May 29: UN Special Envoy Said Djinnit calls for restraint by all parties.
• May 30: The election commission’s (CENI) vice president, Spes Caritas Ndironkeye, resigns and flees the countries. Another member of CENI also flees.
• May 30: The State Department urges Burundi to postpone elections.
• May 30: Interior Minister Eduoard Nduwimana says elections will go aheadas planned.
• May 31: EAC Heads of State urge Burundi to delay elections.
• May 31: Adama Dieng urges all parties to engage in dialogue and appeals for calm.
• June 1: Nkurunziza warns that any future attempts to unseat him by force will fail.
• June 1: Burundi says it is open to postponing elections, but will wait for CENI’s decision.
• June 1: The United Nations disperses another $15m to Burundian refugees.
• June 2: The United States calls a potential third term for Nkurunziza unconstitutional.
• June 3: Burundi announces it will delay elections, but does not give concrete dates, saying they will happen by August.
• June 3: Burundi’s main opposition parties and civil society groups voice their support for the poll delay.
• June 5: Police kill a protester in Musaga.
• June 6: Agathon Rwasa says elections must be held by August, but that fair elections are unlikely.
• June 6: Protests and clashes take place in Butagazwa, Bujumbura Rural Province.
• June 7: The International Francophone Organization calls for a resumption of dialogue.
• June 8: Burundi’s government announces the Presidential election will be held July 15 and Parliamentary elections will happen June 26.
• June 8: A spokesperson for Burundi’s independent opposition rejects the new election timetable.
• June 8: The EU releases almost $4m to Burundian refugees.
• June 9: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad al Husseinsays he’s worried more violence could push Burundi over the edge.
• June 9: In a letter addressed to Ban Ki-moon, several Burundian civil society groups reject UN Special Envoy Said Djinnit as a neutral moderator.
• June 10: Police kill two demonstrators in Buyenzi.
• June 10: Several prominent opposition politicians, excluding Rwasa, call for a boycott of elections.
• June 11: UN Special Envoy Said Djinnit resigns as mediator in Burundi, but retains his positions.