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Burundi denies army split after new defense minister appointed

Xinhua, May 20, 2015 Adjust font size:

The spokesman for the Burundian army on Tuesday denied there was a split in the military, following media reports that the newly-appointed defense minister's taking office was thwarted.

"There's no tension in the army and there's no division in the army. We are united. What people heard is a rumor," Colonel Gaspard Baratuza said in a statement.

"Rumors" circulating in the capital Bujumbura on Tuesday said some soldiers were opposed to the dismissal of former defense minister Maj. Gen. Pontien Gaciyubwenge.

"No one has prevented the new defense minister from entering his office," Baratuza said.

On Monday, Emmanuel Ntahomvukiye who has no military background, was appointed as the defense minister, just a few days after an aborted coup against President Pierre Nkurunziza running for a third term in the June elections. Endi