A Burundi army general is leading a coup against the president

(Image credit: Sean Gallup / Getty Images)

published 13 May 2015

General Godefroid Niyombare has announced a coup in Burundi, saying that senior army officers are "dismissing" President Pierre Nkurunziza, BBC News reports.

Niyombare said that a national salvation committee will run the country, but an aide to Nkurunziza told BBC News that the coup is "a joke." Niyombare announced the coup on Burundi's Bonesha FM radio station Wednesday, while Nkurunziza was at a conference in Tanzania.

Since April 26, Burundi has seen riots and unrest over Nkurunziza's bid for re-election to a third term as president, which would violate Burundi's constitution. More than 20 people have died in the unrest, and police have opened fire and used tear gas against anti-Nkurunziza protesters. Even during Niyombare's announcement Wednesday, police continued to fire at protesters in Bujumbura, Burundi's capital.