Burundi’s President
Pierre Nkurunziza has launched a referendum campaign to prolong his stay in
power until 2034, news agency AFP reports.
The push is aimed at
adopting a draft constitution that would allow him to serve another two
seven-year terms from 2020.
He told supporters on
Tuesday at the central Gitenga village that those who oppose his bid “by speech
or action” would cross “the red line”.
The campaign comes
after the government launched a funds drive for the 2020 elections.
AFP reports that the
move, which the government says is voluntary, has been condemned by rights
groups as “organised robbery”.
Opposition figures in
exile say the referendum will be the “funeral” of the country’s 2000 peace
agreement that ended a 13-year civil war in which more than 300,000 people were
killed, AFP added.
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