US CONDEMNS BURUNDI’S ‘POLITICAL VIOLENCE’

The US has condemned Burundi for what it calls “numerous instances of violence” and “intimidation and harassment” against people opposed to a referendum which could extend the rule of President Pierre Nkurunziza.

The US State Department said in a statement that the vote on 17 May could hurt Burundi’s democratic institutions.

It called on the government “to respect Burundi’s international legal obligations regarding the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association”.

On Monday a court sentenced an official from the ruling party to three years in jail for encouraging people in his home village to throw anyone who opposed the referendum into a lake.

Nearly 430,000 people, including opposition politicians, have fled Burundi since President Nkurunziza won a controversial third term in 2015.

If the referendum vote goes in his favour it will allow him to rule until 2034.

Ends/BBC

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