Burundi's opposition has announced it will boycott the upcoming elections, following weeks of uprisings. The landlocked country which is just recovering from its fratricidal civil war is already beset by another civil unrest.

"The opposition parties unanimously decided to boycott the elections, which were prepared by the CENI [Electoral Commission]," Charles Nditije, one of the representatives of the opposition, said. This is coming on the heels of President Pierre Nkurunziza’s decision to contest for a third term.

The opposition parties are standing on the premise that the president’s third term bid is unconstitutional while the President Nkurunziza’s camp insists that the president’s first term should not be regarded as he was chosen by the parliament rather than an electoral process.

The leader of the National Liberation Forces (FNL), Agathon Rwasa told IBTimes UK he would be boycotting the electoral process.

 Agathon Rwasawho had hitherto insisted that he would continue running as a presidential candidate has reneged on his ambition. He had nonetheless rejected the idea of a transitional government.

While legislative and municipal elections will be held on 26 June, the embattled presidential elections are now tentatively slated for 15 July.

Representatives of opposition parties – including UPD Zigamibanga, Frodebu, Ikibiri, RENAC, MSD and PSD – have been at an inter-dialogue meeting facilitated by African Union, the UN, the general secretary of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region and the East African Community to find a solution to more than two months of violence.

The international community called for the opposing sides to resume political dialogue after almost two months of street violence.

It is estimated that more than 80 people have died and about 150,000 civilians have fled their home country to seek refuge in neighbouring countries since the violence erupted on 26 April, when the CNDD-FDD nominated Nkurunziza to stand for re-election.