BUJUMBURA
The Burundian government said Tuesday that President Pierre Nkurunziza's nomination for a third term in office was "not negotiable".
"The government will not negotiate issues aimed at undermining the institutions [of state]," government spokesman Philippe Nzobonariba said in a statement.
"President Nkurunziza has said that, if he is re-elected [to a third term in office], this term would be the last," said Nzobonariba.
The spokesman went on to voice the government's concern over what he described as "diplomatic activities" aimed at undermining Burundian state institutions.
Burundi has been rocked by protest since the ruling National Council for the Defense of Democracy named Nkurunziza – in power since 2005 – its candidate for June presidential polls.
The country's opposition says Nkurunziza does not have the right to seek a third term, citing Burundi's constitution, which limits the number of terms a president can serve to two.
However, Burundi's Constitutional Court has ruled that Nkurunziza's third-term bid would not violate the constitution.
The court ruled that, since he was elected in 2005 by parliament and not by the people, Nkurunziza's first stint in office should not be counted as a first presidential term per se.
Since protests first erupted in late April, dozens – including several soldiers – have been killed, hundreds have been injured and over 500 have been arrested, according to an Anadolu Agency tally based on police and opposition sources.
