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Pierre Nkurunziza, one of Africa's youngest leaders |
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BURUNDI: DEFENSE MINISTER REQUESTS REINTRODUCTION OF DEATH PENALTY
February 18, 2016: Burundian Defense Minister Emmanuel Ntahomvukiye requested the reintroduction of the death penalty to sanction authors of the May 13, 2015 failed coup plot, the government official said in a parliamentary session.
Defense and War Veterans Minister Emmanuel Ntahomvukiye was speaking in a session at the parliamentary house in Kigobe along with two of his colleagues - Security Minister Alain Guillaume Bunyoni and External Relations and International Cooperation Minister Alain Aime Nyamitwe.
They had been summoned to answer MPs' questions and to debate on Burundi's political crisis that broke in April 2015 as well as possible solutions.
"The death penalty should be reintroduced especially to sanction people who attempted to overthrow institutions on May 13, 2015," Ntahomvukiye told the Parliament.
Burundi abolished the death penalty in the penal code promulgated on April 29, 2009.
Burundi's crisis broke out in April 2015 following the announcement by Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza that he would be seeking a third term.
His candidature, which was opposed by the opposition and civil society groups, resulted into a wave of protests, violence and even a failed coup on May 13, 2015. (Sources: Xinhua, 18/02/2016)
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