Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- May 13, 2015

BBC: Burundi: What is behind the coup bid?

A Burundi army general has said that President Pierre Nkurunziza has been "overthrown".

The move follows weeks of demonstrations, mainly in the capital, Bujumbura.

Why has there been a coup attempt?

The trouble began in April when it was announced that President Pierre Nkurunziza would run for a third term.

Protesters took to the streets saying the former rebel leader, who has been in power for nearly 10 years, was not entitled to do so.

They are unhappy that the constitutional court has ruled that as Mr Nkurunziza was appointed by parliament in 2005 - and not directly elected - he can stand again.

Some army generals agree this flies in the face of the peace accord that ended a brutal 12-year civil war - and say they are relieving the president of his duties.

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- May 13, 2015

Did East Africa’s leaders just stage the coup in Burundi? -- Omar Mohammed, Quartz

Nigeria Stepped Forward, Burundi Steps Back -- Charlotte Florance, The Compass

A new cooperation on Syria -- David Ignatius, Washington Post

US and the Middle East: Conspiracy and collusion -- Marwan Bishara, Al Jazeera

‘Yemen has a lot of bad actors’: Iran and Saudi Arabia face lesson on limits of power -- Joseph Trevithick, Reuters

Former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia: Why the Saudi King Snubbed President Obama -- Robert W. Jordan, Time

Saudi King’s Absence at Obama Summit Moves Spotlight to Mysterious Son -- Karl Vick, Time

Will US-Gulf summit bridge the gap on Iran – or highlight disconnects? -- Howard LaFranchi, CSM

Kidnaps and Murders Could Presage ISIS-Style Slaughter in Afghanistan -- Ahmad Shuja, Daily Beast

Iran nuclear deal: the real lessons from North Korea -- Scott Peterson, CSM

On the Run From Boko Haram -- Tomaso Clavarino, Newsweek

As Russia-China Alignment Grows, Shared Vulnerabilities Emerge -- Richard Weitz, WPR

Can the China-Russia Warmth Last? -- Björn Alexander Düben, The Diplomat

Vigilantes Vs. Assassins on Mexico’s Heroin Highway -- Jeremy Kryt, Daily Beast

Bin Laden, War Crimes and Gray Areas -- Noah Feldman, Bloomberg