Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza. (Photo: AFP)
(VOVworld)- On Sunday, Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza made his first appearance in the capital since last Wednesday’s attempted coup.
In a brief statement to reporters at the presidential palace, Nkurunziza didn’t mention the failed coup plot but warned of a threat from Somalia's Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab militants.
Nkurunziza said that Burundian authorities are taking steps against the Shebab who have threatened attacks against Burundi and other states that contribute troops to the African Union (AU) force in Somalia that is fighting al-Shabab. Burundi was plunged into chaos Wednesday when former head of Burundi National Intelligence, Major General Godefroid Niyombare, who was sacked in February, announced an overthrow of President Nkurunziza while he was on a visit to neighboring Tanzania.
The attempted coup climaxed after weeks of street protests against Nkurunziza's attempt to stay in power by standing in next month’s elections for a third term. The coup attempt was crushed by forces loyal to Nkurunziza’s and he has now returned to Burundi.