Event; Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza attempted to return to the Capital Bunjumbura late Wednesday. The attempt to land at the main airport was thwarted by military officers who fired at the aircraft forcing the president to return to Tanzania.
An unnamed army general went to a broadcasting house and announced that the coup led by Major General Godefroid Niyombarehad failed.
The rival military group barricaded the finance ministry and deployed its units in the capital Bujumbura armed with rocket launchers and heavy machine-guns.
Analysis
Intelligence briefs showed that there was a high risk of the security forces intervening in the political impasse in Burundi.
Also, there were warnings of possible break up of the military along political-ethnic lines. This fracturing of the security forces would have catastrophic ramifications on the peace & political future of the country.
Current Outlook
Heavy fighting has been going on in the capital Bujumbura pitting rival military factions. A faction loyal to President Knurunziza is backed up by militia’s and elements of the police service.
The other faction is loyal to Major General Godefroid Niyombarehad and the political opposition leaders.
The fighting is expected to go on for next several days and could erupt into a major civil war if an urgent political truce is not put in place by regional powers.
