Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza has signed a decree delaying legislative and local elections by a week.
This follows what is turning out to be daily protests and a failed coup attempt all in an attempt to pressure president Pierre Nkurunziza to give up his third term bid for the presidency.
Electoral commission chairman confirmed the presidents decree saying the elections will be conducted on June 2.
Thousands of Burundians have been protesting in the capital, Bujumbura, demanding that President Pierre Nkurunziza step down over his controversial decision to run for a third term in office.
On Tuesday, at least eight people were arrested as the police tried to disperse a demonstration leading to some protesters to respond by throwing rocks at police.
Police fired tear gas and beat protesters who say they will remain in the streets until the president withdraws his plan to seek a third term.
The opposition says a third term would violate the constitution, but the president and his supporters say he is eligible to run again because he was appointed to his first term by parliament.
A presidential spokesman told reporters Wednesday the president made his decision on advice from the election commission and following requests from the opposition and the international community.
The spokesman added that no decision has been made on whether to delay the presidential election, scheduled for June 26.
President Nkurunziza on Monday dismissed his defence and foreign ministers after last week’s failed military coup.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta also urged Nkurunziza to postpone the presidential election.
At least 20 people have died in three weeks of clashes between security forces and protesters.
The president withstood a coup attempt last week when he was out of the country for a regional conference focused on Burundi’s political situation
