BUJUMBURA, Burundi (AP) — Burundi’s second vice president says he has fled the country fearing for his life after opposing the president’s controversial bid for a third term that has sparked off violent protests in the capital in recent weeks.
Gervais Rufyikiri, believed to have taken refuge in Brussels last week, said in an interview on Radio France International aired today that he has not officially resigned.
In a Twitter posting, the presidential adviser for information and media Willy Nyamitwe confirmed Rufyikiri had fled.
Rights activists say at least 77 people have died in streets protests against President Pierre Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term in office in the July 15 presidential elections.
The Times Record Sustaining Sponsor
We believe a community must be informed to thrive. bowdoin.edu
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less