Gunfire and at least one grenade explosion could be heard in some parts of Bujumbura as voting started at 6 a.m. Monday, said witnesses. In those areas, few civilians were seen at polling stations. Increased police presence has reportedly agitated anti-government protestors and spurred more violence causing a rise in grenade attacks. In the southern Bururi district, an opposition stronghold, about 10% of registered voters had cast their ballots by midday. “They were afraid […] that this could endanger them security-wise if people can see that they voted,” explained Wittig.
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But the government has pressed on with the election schedule while the country goes through its worst political crisis since an ethnically-charged civil war ended in 2005.
Warning that the governing party and its youth militia use violence to limit freedom of speech and hate speech to obtain certain electoral outcome, Pablo de Greiff, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence stressed the utmost importance to disarm those youth militias. “This is our fear”.
The European Union (EU) condemned Burundi’s “grave” decision to hold elections, saying it would worsen the situation.
Ban expressed concern about Monday’s election, as well as strong disapproval, for the lack of progress by Burundian parties to agree on a path for “free, fair, inclusive and peaceful elections”. “Noting that the necessary conditions are not met for the organisation of free, fair, transparent and credible elections… the AU Commission won’t observe the local and parliamentary elections scheduled to take place this Monday”.
Opponents say his bid for another term is unconstitutional and violates a peace accord that ended 13 years of civil war in 2006. “I stayed here given the difficulties in my country, difficulties which are due to the illegal third mandate of the president”, parliament speaker Pie Ntavyohanyuma told France 24. Presidential elections would be held on July 15 but the continental body said they would another sham.
Several top officials – including a deputy vice-president as well as members of the election commission and constitutional court – have also fled the poverty-stricken, landlocked country.
Parliament must be made up of 60% from the majority Hutu people – who make up about 85% of the population – with the remaining 40% of elected seats reserved for the minority Tutsi.
Fearing for their lives, more than 120,000 Burundian citizens have already sought shelter overseas.
“For the moment, I am forced to stay in Brussels…”
Like other Burundians overseas, he has not been able to vote.
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“The electoral commission that organised the election is not independent”, he remarked. The opposition boycotted polls in 2010.
