2015 Burundian coup attempt
Coup d'état attempt / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
On 13 May 2015, army general Godefroid Niyombare said that he was "dismissing President Pierre Nkurunziza" following the 2015 Burundian unrest.[1] However, the presidency tweeted that the "situation is under control" and there is "no coup".[2][3]
2015 Burundian coup d'état attempt | |||||||
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Part of 2015 Burundian unrest | |||||||
A loyalist soldier after the failure of the coup, on 18 May 2015 | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Government of Burundi | Army faction | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Pierre Nkurunziza Prime Niyongabo, Head of the Army |
Godefroid Niyombare Cyrille Ndayirukiye, Defence minister Zenon Ndabaneze, Police Commissioner |
President Nkurunziza was at the time in neighbouring Tanzania attending the 13th Extraordinary Summit of the East African Community Heads of State, which had been convened to discuss the situation in Burundi.
Nkurunziza quickly attempted to return to Burundi, but he was apparently unable to do so because rebel soldiers had taken control of the airport in Bujumbura. Nevertheless, the head of the armed forces, Prime Niyongabo, said on state radio during the night of 13–14 May that the coup attempt had been defeated, and he called on rebel soldiers to surrender. Loyalist forces remained in control of the state radio and presidential palace.[4] Shortly thereafter, "heavy fighting" was reported around the state radio as it was attacked by rebel soldiers.[5]
Nkurunziza's office announced the president's successful return to Burundi on 14 May, as army and police loyal to Nkurunziza regained control of much of Bujumbura. On 15 May, the government said it arrested Niyombare and two other leaders of the coup and would charge them with mutiny.[6]