There was a failed coup attempt against the President and threat of Islamist violence from al-Shabaab.

Via Vice:

A relative calm returned to the streets of Burundi’s capital on Saturday, with President Pierre Nkurunziza reclaiming control of the country and declaring that an attempted military coup to overthrow him had been quashed.

Unrest has gripped the country since Nkurunziza announced on April 25 that he would seek a third term in office despite a two-term limit set by the constitution. The president’s decision to seek re-election sparked daily protests and widespread violence in a government crackdown, leading thousands to flee to neighboring Rwanda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

On Wednesday, several of Burundi’s top military leaders announced a coup while Nkurunziza was out of the country. The attempted ouster sparked clashes between Nkurunziza loyalists and coup supporters, who failed to seize control of the state radio network in a battle that reportedly left 12 soldiers dead and dozens wounded.

Nkurunziza returned to the country on Friday, by which point his security forces had reportedly crushed the coup effort and arrested most of the military leaders responsible. The response to the coup was said to be brutal.

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