BUJUMBURA, Burundi (AP) – Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza has made his first appearance in the capital since the attempted coup against his government last week.
Nkurunziza appeared before journalists at his presidential palace in Bujumbura Sunday morning. He made a brief statement saying that he is battling a threat from Somalia’s Islamic extremists, al-Shabab.
Nkurunziza was in neighboring Tanzania on Wednesday when a general announced a coup. Loyal forces put down the rebellion and Nkurunziza returned to the country, but he had not been seen in the capital.
The coup attempt came after weeks of street protests against Nkurunziza’s efforts to stay in power by standing in elections for a third term in office.
Seventeen security officials, including five generals, accused in the attempted coup appeared Saturday before a prosecutor who charged them with an attempt at destabilizing public institutions, lawyers of some of the suspects said.