Burundi President Sacks Defence, Foreign Ministers Over Failed Coup

Posted by African Examiner African News, Latest Headlines, News Tuesday, May 19th, 2015

By Ayo Balogun with Agency Reports – The embattled Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza has fired two top officials in his cabinet, including the Ministers of Defence and Foreign in connection with last Wednesday foiled coup against his government.

President Nkurunziza’s Spokesperson, Gervais Abayeho, confirmed this Tuesday, announcing that Emmanuel Ntahonvukiye, was named Monday to replace Pontian Gaciyubwenge, as the Defence Minister, while Alain Aime Nyamitwe was appointed the new Foreign Minister who succeeds the former, Laurent Kavakure.

The appointees are believed to be Nkurunziza’s core loyalists who expectedly would not work against him as well as truncate his political ambition, which triggered violence and protest in the East African country since late April this year.

It would be recalled the former Defence Minister, two Police Commissioners and about 12 other Police officers, were arrested last Friday in connection with the purported “overthrow”. The coup leader, Gen Godefroid Niyombare is still at large.

The Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, has also added his voice to the lingering crisis, as he had advised President Nkurunziza to shift the country’s poll, slated for next month.

Kenyanta’s Spokesperson, Manoah Esipisu, confirmed that the two leaders, whose countries are members of the East African Community common market, spoke last Sunday via phone.