Contested Election Victory for Burundi's Ruling Party: Opponents Allege Fraudulent Voting Processes
** politicians play the game in Burundi**
In the recent election held in Burundi, the CNDD-FDD party claimed a landslide victory, garnering an astonishing 96.51% of the vote. The election commission head, Prosper Ntahorwamiye, declaring the results during a live televised ceremony, stated that with no other party passing the constitutional 2% threshold, all 100 seats in the National Assembly would go to the victorious party.
However, the Uprona party, which secured 1.38% of the vote, was not pleased with the outcome. The secretary-general of the Uprona party, Olivier Nkurunziza, accused the elections of being rigged, claiming that in some constituencies, the CNDD-FDD won with a 100% vote share, with no invalid votes, no abstentions, and no absentees. He further added that these claims were questionable considering there were at least 50 contesting candidates in each commune.
The National Council for Freedom (CNL), the ruling CNDD-FDD's main opposition, denounced multiple voting and forced voting on polling day. The CNL also reported that its observers were hunted down and arbitrarily imprisoned.
Anicet Niyonkuru, a legislative candidate and head of the Conseil des Patriotes, a small opposition party, reported further irregularities. He claimed that in some cases, voters placed ballot papers that had already been filled in, representing a major form of cheating he observed nationwide.
President Evariste Ndayishimiye assumed power in Burundi in June 2020 following the death of his predecessor, Pierre Nkurunziza. Since taking office, his actions have been a complex mix of openness and control, with human rights abuses being denounced by NGOs and the United Nations.
Burundi is the poorest country in the world, according to a 2023 World Bank ranking, with nine million of its 12 million inhabitants living below the poverty line. The country has faced a crippling petrol shortage for nearly three years.
A Burundian analyst, fearing reprisals, stated that the country is navigating a severe socio-economic crisis, characterized by shortages, galloping inflation, and growing public dissatisfaction.
(with French news agency AFP)
Tackling Oppression in Burundi
In Burundi's 2020 elections, the ruling CNDD-FDD party was accused of manipulating the system in its favor. The main opposition contender, the CNL, faced obstruction and allegations of electoral fraud. The Uprona party, while not specifically highlighted, also claimed instances of vote rigging. In light of these allegations, it is crucial to uphold and promote fair, unbiased, and transparent elections to secure a more democratic and equitable future for Burundi.
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- The international community should closely monitor Burundi's political landscape, as allegations of electoral fraud, manipulation, and obstruction persist, potentially impacting the country's war-and-conflicts, general news, and crime-and-justice reporting.
- Amidst the ongoing political tensions in Burundi, the focus should also extend to the general socio-economic conditions, as Burundi remains the poorest country in the world, with significant unemployment and a crippling petrol shortage, impacting politics and public dissatisfaction.
- In an attempt to promote fairness and general news reporting, it's essential for African media outlets to provide coverage not only on Africa's war-and-conflicts, politics, and crime-and-justice news but also on the country's internal behalf, aiming to hold the ruling party accountable for any instances of election fraud or manipulation.
