[Church Times] As the Church Times went to press [on 15 May], it was reported that a military coup had been staged in Burundi. Major-General Godefroid Niyombareh said that a "national salvation committee" had been formed. Thousands of protesters were said to be celebrating, but the President, Pierre Nkurunziza, who is currently in Tanzania, said that the coup had failed.

Fear of civil war had already been gripping parts of the country, two weeks into protests against the ruling party, the Bishop of Gitega [of the Anglican Church of Burundi], the Rt Revd John Nduwayo, said this week.

More than 15 people have died since the demonstrations began on 26 April, and some of the 200 people injured are not being well treated because of the lack of medical fees, he has reported. More than 400 protesters are being jailed in "very harsh conditions", and a shut-down of private and social media by the government is preventing the population from getting "balanced information and reality of what is happening on the ground".

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