Former Secretary General of the United Nations (UN) Kofi Annan has broken the silence he had maintained ever since the beginning of the political crisis in Burundi caused by the announcement of the candidacy of incumbent President Nkurunziza for a third term.

According to former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, the President of Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza has lost legitimacy and should resign.

In an interview with Focus on Africa TV, he said that what is happening in Burundi could be really tragic. Referring to the civil war that ended in 2005, Kofi Annan expressed disappointment on the short memory of the political leadership in Burundi .

300 000 people died during the civil war in Burundi and since the announcement of the candidacy of Mr. Nkurunziza late in April, demonstrations are held almost on a daily basis in the streets of Bujumbura involving many clashes with police.

More than thirty people have so far been killed amid very strong political tensions. The Burundian government has announced that the presidential election on June 26 will take place on 26 August.

By Doreen Kagire