Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza

Presidential elections in the crisis-hit central African nation of Burundi have been postponed to July 21, nearly a week later than originally scheduled, the presidency announced Saturday.

A decree signed by President Pierre Nkurunziza, whose controversial bid to stand for a third consecutive five-year term has sparked weeks of civil unrest, said the polls would be moved from July 15 to July 21, with campaigning extended until the evening of July 18.