Burundi

US President Barack Obama on July 25 called for gay rights in Africa during his landmark visit to Kenya, comparing homophobia to racial discrimination he had encountered in the United States.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on July 20 pressed Burundian authorities to pull out all the stops to see that elections are carried out peacefully.

At least six people including a policeman were killed on July 1 in the latest violence in Burundi, as it awaits results from elections boycotted by the opposition and condemned internationally.

Nearly 10,000 Burundians fled the country over the weekend before Burundi closed its borders ahead of controversial and violence-wracked elections in the troubled central African nation, the United Nations said on June 30.

Thousands of Burundian activists mourned a murdered opposition leader at his funeral May 24, vowing to intensify their protests against a bid by the president of the central African nation to seek a third consecutive term.

Parliamentary and presidential elections due to take place in Burundi in May and June could be delayed in the wake of the coup attempt against President Pierre Nkurunziza, his office said May 17.

Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias will be in Brussels on Monday, May 18, to attend a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC).

Burundian leader Pierre Nkurunziza has returned to the country, his office said May 14, as a deputy coup leader said the attempt to overthrow the president had failed after fierce battles between rival army factions.

Shots rang in Burundi, Africa, near the state-owned radio and TV station, according to Reuters.

The station’s building has been surrounded by soldiers, while some attempted to enter.

Heavy fighting between rival Burundian troops erupted in the capital on May 14, the day after a top general launched a coup to oust the central African nation's President Pierre Nkurunziza.