Burundi Coup Attempt: Three Generals Arrested

Three Burundian generals, who launched a failed coup against President Pierre Nkurunziza, have been arrested, reports say.

Their leader, General Godefroid Niyombare, is still “on the run”, according to a presidential spokesman.

Godefroid Niyombare, who launched the coup attempt on May 13, told the AFP news agency: “I hope they won’t kill us.”

President Pierre Nkurunziza has tweeted he is back home. He was in Tanzania when the coup attempt against his bid to seek a third term was launched.

Five soldiers were killed in clashes in the capital, Bujumbura, on May 14.

“We have decided to surrender,” Gen. Godefroid Niyombare told AFP. He added that troops loyal to President Pierre Nkurunziza were approaching him.

Another of the renegade generals, Gen. Cyrille Ndayirukiye, admitted earlier that the attempt to overthrow the president had failed.

Thousands celebrated on the streets of the capital after Gen. Godefroid Niyombare announced the takeover on national radio on May 13 whilst President Nkurunziza attended a summit in Tanzania.

This followed weeks of protests against Pierre Nkurunziza’s decision to seek a third term in office, an apparently unconstitutional move, causing tens of thousands to flee Burundi.