Burundi’s president registered on Friday to run for a third term, his spokesman said, a move likely to stoke anger among protesters opposing his bid for another five years in office.
Burundi’s constitutional court ruled that he is eligible because he was picked by parliament, not elected by people, during his first term.
Crowds have taken to the streets and clashed with police for almost two weeks, saying Pierre Nkurunziza’s plan to run again violates the constitution and a peace deal that ended an ethnically charged civil war in 2005.
Saturday is the deadline for candidates to submit applications to the election commission.
More than 50,000 Burundians have fled to neighboring countries in recent weeks amid violent protests.
The U.N. refugee agency on Friday said that members of the ruling party’s youth wing are painting red marks on the homes of people to be targeted.
The situation in Burundi has deteriorated and opponents are calling for postponement of the elections.
