The Burundian ruling party has dismissed 10 senior party officials for “behaving like rebels” as they opposed President Pierre Nkurunzia’s seek for a third term in office, the party spokesman said on Wednesday.
The spokesman for the ruling Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) party, Daniel Gelase Ndabirabe, said the 10 officials behaved in a rebellious way by writing a letter to the president and publishing it in the media while there are party channels through which they could voice their request.
On Monday, 17 CNDD-FDD officials sent a petition to Nkurunziza in which they asked him to give up running for another term in the forthcoming presidential election.
The sacked officials include president spokesman, the former CNDD-FDD spokesman, chairperson of the CNDD-FDD women’s wing, members of the parliament and provincial heads.
The dismissal comes after the ruling party’s Chairman Pascal Nyabenda on Tuesday issued a warning against the 17 senior officials, calling their move a “violation of laws.”
Earlier this month, Burundi’s bishops issued a message to Roman Catholics in which they expressed opposition to Nkurunziza’s plan to run for a third term in office, stressing it would be a violation of the Arusha Agreement and the National constitution.
Burundi’s constitution provides that president of Burundi cannot serve the country for more than two terms, however it is not clear how to define the terms Nkurunziza has already served as he was elected by the parliament in 2005 and directly re-elected by citizens in 2010.
Burundi is to hold its general elections between May and September, with the presidential election to be held on June 26. Enditem
Source: Xinhua
