Police Kill 2 in Protest against Burundian President Seeking Third Term

President Pierre Nkurunziza

Burundian police shot dead two protesters and wounded at least one other on Sunday, in demonstrations against the President Pierre Nkurunziza seeking a third term, the Red Cross said.

Witnesses said police used water cannon, tear gas and in some cases live bullets to disperse demonstrators across Bujumbura.

The authorities earlier banned all protests either for or against President Pierre Nkurunziza’s renewed candidacy.

Critics say Nkurunziza’s renewed candidacy would violate a constitutional limit of two terms.

African leaders and Western nations have urged Nkurunziza not to run again.

U.S. and the European Union have indicated they could take punitive steps if violence erupted as a result.

“We counted two protesters killed by police, four others were injured and one is in coma in hospital after being hit by a bullet,” Alexis Manirakiza, Burundi Red Cross spokesman said.

However, Police had no immediate comment on the casualties.

Burundi’s ruling CNDD-FDD party nominated Nkurunziza as its presidential candidate on Saturday.

Those opposed to it say this not only violates the constitution, which limits leaders to two terms in office, but also goes against the spirit of a 2000 peace deal.

The peace deal has kept Burundi calm for a decade since a civil war between ethnic Hutus and Tutsis ended in 2005.

Photo Credit: Getty Images /Sean Gallup