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Burundi's Pierre Nkurunziza renames historical landmarks | Burundi's Pierre Nkurunziza renames historical landmarks |
(about 13 hours later) | |
Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza has controversially renamed the country's national landmarks to reflect the historical contribution of the majority Hutu ethnic group. | Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza has controversially renamed the country's national landmarks to reflect the historical contribution of the majority Hutu ethnic group. |
Renaming the national stadium, the presidential palace and main airport was meant to "remind Burundians of their history," he said in his independence-day speech. | Renaming the national stadium, the presidential palace and main airport was meant to "remind Burundians of their history," he said in his independence-day speech. |
Critics, however, say the move was meant to erase the contribution of members of the minority Tustsi community. | Critics, however, say the move was meant to erase the contribution of members of the minority Tustsi community. |
Burundi marked its 57th independence day on 1 July. | Burundi marked its 57th independence day on 1 July. |
Since independence from Belgium in 1962, the landlocked central African country has been plagued by tension between the Hutu majority and Tutsi minority. | Since independence from Belgium in 1962, the landlocked central African country has been plagued by tension between the Hutu majority and Tutsi minority. |
Mr Nkurunziza, a Hutu former rebel leader, became the second president to be chosen in democratic elections. He was elected in 2005 after the end of a brutal civil war. | Mr Nkurunziza, a Hutu former rebel leader, became the second president to be chosen in democratic elections. He was elected in 2005 after the end of a brutal civil war. |
In 2015 Burundi was plunged into another crisis when Mr Nkurunziza's ultimately successful bid for re-election to a third term sparked protests by opposition supporters, who said the move was unconstitutional. | In 2015 Burundi was plunged into another crisis when Mr Nkurunziza's ultimately successful bid for re-election to a third term sparked protests by opposition supporters, who said the move was unconstitutional. |
In March 2018, the governing CNDD-FDD party named Mr Nkurunziza the country's "eternal supreme guide". | In March 2018, the governing CNDD-FDD party named Mr Nkurunziza the country's "eternal supreme guide". |
A referendum two months later overwhelmingly voted for constitutional reforms that could allow President Nkurunziza to stay in office until 2034, although he has said he won't seek re-election next year. | |
In his independence-day speech, the 54-year-old leader said the exercise to rename the country's landmarks was meant to deal with betrayal: | In his independence-day speech, the 54-year-old leader said the exercise to rename the country's landmarks was meant to deal with betrayal: |
"This move is also to remove names that emerge from betrayal and bad behaviour brought in by colonialism," he said. | "This move is also to remove names that emerge from betrayal and bad behaviour brought in by colonialism," he said. |
These are some of the landmarks he has renamed: | These are some of the landmarks he has renamed: |
National stadium | National stadium |
The main stadium in the former capital city of Bujumbura, which hosts football matches and national day celebrations, is now officially called Heroes Stadium. | The main stadium in the former capital city of Bujumbura, which hosts football matches and national day celebrations, is now officially called Heroes Stadium. |
It used to be named after Louis Rwagasore, one of the most revered and prominent figures in Burundi's history. | It used to be named after Louis Rwagasore, one of the most revered and prominent figures in Burundi's history. |
His portrait is also used in the country's currency. | His portrait is also used in the country's currency. |
He served as the country's first prime minister but was assassinated before the country attained independence in 1962. | He served as the country's first prime minister but was assassinated before the country attained independence in 1962. |
Every 13 October the country celebrates his memory. | Every 13 October the country celebrates his memory. |
Although he is losing the national stadium, President Nkurunziza said the new parliament building in the new yet-to-be-built capital city of Gitega will be named after Rwagasore. | Although he is losing the national stadium, President Nkurunziza said the new parliament building in the new yet-to-be-built capital city of Gitega will be named after Rwagasore. |
Burundi International Airport | Burundi International Airport |
The main airport in Bujumbura will now be called Merchior Ndadaye after the country's first democratically elected president. | The main airport in Bujumbura will now be called Merchior Ndadaye after the country's first democratically elected president. |
The ethnic Hutu only ruled for three months in 1993 before he was assassinated after his reforms antagonised the Tutsi-dominated army. | The ethnic Hutu only ruled for three months in 1993 before he was assassinated after his reforms antagonised the Tutsi-dominated army. |
His killing sparked a new round of violence which plunged Burundi into an ethnic conflict which claimed some 300,000 lives. | His killing sparked a new round of violence which plunged Burundi into an ethnic conflict which claimed some 300,000 lives. |
The 3rd September street | The 3rd September street |
The date marks the day former military leader Pierre Buyoya overthrew his cousin President Jean-Baptiste Bagaza in 1987. | The date marks the day former military leader Pierre Buyoya overthrew his cousin President Jean-Baptiste Bagaza in 1987. |
Mr Buyoya, a Tutsi, came into power promising to heal the fractious relationship between Burundi's ethnic groups, but unleashed a repressive campaign to deal with a Hutu uprising in 1988. | |
The famous street in Bujumbura will now bear the name of Lt-Gen Adolphe Nshimirimana, an ally of President Nkurunziza, who was assassinated in 2015 months after an attempted coup against the government. | The famous street in Bujumbura will now bear the name of Lt-Gen Adolphe Nshimirimana, an ally of President Nkurunziza, who was assassinated in 2015 months after an attempted coup against the government. |
Lt-Gen Nshimirimana served as the presidential adviser and was a former head of the intelligence unit who had gained a reputation as a feared and ruthless operator. | |
Presidential palace | Presidential palace |
The new presidential palace was renamed after King Ntare Rushatsi. | The new presidential palace was renamed after King Ntare Rushatsi. |
It cost $22m (£19m) to build and was reportedly a gift from China. | It cost $22m (£19m) to build and was reportedly a gift from China. |
The legendary King Rushatsi is seen as having been the founder of the Burundi kingdom in the 1500s. | The legendary King Rushatsi is seen as having been the founder of the Burundi kingdom in the 1500s. |