TheCable

Pierre Nkurunziza, the president of Burundi, has been photographed playing football as protests continue over his bid to run for a third term in office.

In the latest unrest, a protester was shot dead in Bujumbura but Nkurunziza was captured playing his daily kick-about with friends.

“The president’s passion for football is well known. He even has his own team, called Hallelujah FC,” the BBC said.

“He combines matches against local team with evangelical prayer sessions. He never travels without his own football team and a choir.”

Last week, Burundi was rocked by a failed coup when the president travelled to Tanzania to attend a regional summit.

Nkurunziza went back into the country and days later the coup leaders were arrested.

On Wednesday, during his first public appearance, the president claimed the country was facing Al-Shabaab terror threat and evaded discussing the coup attempt.

Nkurunziza has since sacked his defence and foreign ministers and postponed upcoming parliamentary elections for a week to June 2.

Protests against the third-term bid have been taking place since April and his critics say the bid contravenes the constitution, which requires him to step down after two terms.

However, Burundi’s constitutional court says that Nkurunziza’s first term does not count because he was elected by parliament and not voters.