DHAKA: Celebrations have broken out in Burundi’s capital Bujumbura following a coup against the government of President Pierre Nkurunziza.

The developments came after an army officer announced on Wednesday that Nkurunziza and his government had been dismissed hours after he left for neighboring Tanzania for regional talks.

Major-General Godefroid Niyombare, who was fired by Nkurunziza as intelligence chief in February, made the announcement at a military barracks, reports Aljazeera.

He was surrounded by several other senior officers from the army and police.

“Regarding President Nkurunziza’s arrogance and defiance of the international community which advised him to respect the constitution and Arusha peace agreement, the committee for the establishment of the national concord decide: President Nkurunziza is dismissed, his government is dismissed too,” Niyombare was quoted as saying.

The Tanzanian government said Nkurunziza was flying back home, although his exact whereabouts on Wednesday night were unclear, amid speculation he may have travelled to a third country elsewhere in the region.

BDST: 0932 HRS, May 14, 2015
BD/