– Judges got ‘death threats’ –
Nimpagaritse, the judge who fled, claimed that a majority of the court’s seven judges believed it would be unconstitutional for Nkurunziza to stand again, but buckled under threats to sign the ruling.
The president, a former rebel leader from the Hutu majority who has been in power since 2005, has come under intense international pressure to withdraw from the June 26 presidential poll.
US Secretary of State John Kerry warned Monday that he was “deeply concerned” about Nkurunziza’s decision to stand again, which he said “flies directly in the face of the constitution”.
Burundi, where a 13-year civil war between Tutsis and Hutus ended only in 2006, has been rocked by violent protests since the ruling CNDD-FDD party designated Nkurunziza to stand in what critics say is in defiance of the constitution and the Arusha accords that ended the war.
Nkurunziza’s supporters say he is eligible to run again since his first term in office followed his election by parliament – not directly by the people as the constitution specifies.
Scores of demonstrators have been wounded since protests began on April 26, and witnesses have said police apparently gave no warning before opening fire with live ammunition.
Nearly 600 people have also been arrested, according to police, with reports of many being beaten in custody.
The government linked a grenade attack that killed three people, including two police officers, in the early hours of Saturday to the opposition protests and branded the demonstrators “enemies of the state”.
The country’s powerful security forces appear divided over Nkurunziza’s bid to hold onto power.
Neighbouring Rwanda has expressed its concern over the escalating violence that has caused 30,000 people to flee as refugees into surrounding countries.
“While we respect Burundi’s sovereignty in addressing internal matters, Rwanda considers the safety of innocent population as a regional and international responsibility,” Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo said in a statement late Monday.
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