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Burundi Election: President Nkurunziza Seeks Third Term Amidst Tension

Polls opened in Burundi on Tuesday amid widespread tension for a controversial presidential election where sitting leader, Pierre Nkurunziza is seeking decision to stand for … Continue reading Burundi Election: President Nkurunziza Seeks Third Term Amidst Tension


Pierre Nkurunziza burundiPolls opened in Burundi on Tuesday amid widespread tension for a controversial presidential election where sitting leader, Pierre Nkurunziza is seeking decision to stand for a third consecutive term.

The president’s critics said that “the vote is unconstitutional, as he is only entitled to stand for two terms only.

“A third term is prohibited by a peace accord that ended the 1993-2003 civil war”.

Scattered gunfire could be heard in the streets of the capital, Bujumbura, and ballot casting was light in the first hours after polling stations opened.

Overnight, authorities said that two people were killed in separate incidents in pre-election violence, a police officer and a civilian.

The president’s office had described the latest protests as terrorist acts intended to disrupt the election.

Chief Communications Advisor, Willy Nyamitwe, said: “People do it to intimidate voters. They don’t want the voters to go to the polls”.

Protesters determined to prevent his candidacy have taken to the streets in the capital and have been met with deadly force by police.

In addition, several leading opposition parties had said they would boycott the vote.

More than 170,000 people have fled to neighbouring nations, according to the United Nations, amid fears Burundi would return to a conflict similar to the civil war that left 300,000 people dead.

Many families were crossing on foot without any belongings.

The turmoil also helped spawn an attempted coup in May while the President was out of the country.