EAC cannot afford to look on as Burundi slides into anarchy

A declaration by President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi that he would run for a third presidential term in next month's elections despite a two-term limitation imposed by the country's constitution threatens to plunge the small land-locked nation into anarchy.

Burundians opposed to Mr Nkurunziza running for a third term have taken to the streets of Bujumbura in protest. Seven people have died from the clashes with security officers. The government's reaction to the protests has been to shut down social media, the country's independent media and to declare all demonstrators criminals, terrorists and enemies of the state.