Burundi's influential Catholic Church withdraws election support

BUJUMBURA, Burundi, May 28 (UPI) -- Burundi's influential Catholic Church announced on Thursday it is withdrawing its support for the upcoming, controversial presidential elections.

The country's Catholic bishops asked clergy members who serve on electoral commissions to resign from the commissions. The Church is influential in Burundi, with about two third of the country's population of seven million being Catholic.

Burundi has been in crisis since President Pierre Nkurunziza announced he was seeking a third term, which critics argue violates the constitution.

Nkurunziza's announcement led to violent political protests where more than 20 people died to a failed coup d'etat attempt by army Gen. Godefroid Niyombare.

Foreign donors have threatened to withhold aid if the elections are not delayed, but Nkurunziza has refused. Burundi's government asked its constituents on Wednesday to donate money needed to hold the election due to the lack of foreign aid.

The Catholic Church also previously called for an election postponement.

"Let's use dialogue and consultation and stop using violent means. The method, which so far has been beneficial to us, has been that of people in conflict sitting together to dialogue and consult," Bishop Gervais Banshimiyubusa, head of Burundi's Conference of Catholic Bishops, said in a statement. "Instead of sticking to this path of confrontation which mostly leads to loss of lives, our leaders and all other protagonists should embrace dialogue and consultation."

Political opponents dropped out of peace talks with the government last week after opposition party leader Zedi Feruzi and his bodyguard were killed in a shooting in Burundi's capital, Bujumbura.

The United States has condemned the political killings, urged for the return of peace talks and for authorities to lift a ban on protests.