Burundi elections: opponent Agathon Rwasa dismantles the electoral process

Text by: Esdras Ndikumana Follow

In Burundi, eight days from a triple ballot including a presidential without the outgoing head of state Pierre Nkurunziza, the main opponent Agathon Rwasa denounces in a letter sent urgently to the president of the CENI, and of which RFI has taken note, the main failures of the organization of these elections by the electoral commission, often accused of being in command.

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The opponent and presidential candidate points in particular to definitive lists of voters who have not been publicly displayed, a " catastrophic " distribution and polling station offices made up almost exclusively of members of the ruling party. What take away any " credibility " in these elections, if all this is not corrected as soon as possible, according to Agathon Rwasa. 

First pitfall, the final electoral lists. The Ceni of Burundi made public the provisional lists in December, in accordance with the law. Appeals were then filed on time, before the Commission gave the end of February the final figure for those registered, some 5.1 million voters. It is without the dozen of thousands of Burundians abroad, who will not vote officially because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Today, eight days before the May 20 triple election, the final electoral lists have not yet been published. It is therefore impossible to verify, for example, whether the deceased or those outside the country have been removed from these lists denounces Agathon Rwasa, who speaks of an electoral " scandal " likely to taint all the polls.

A rude Céni, according to the candidate

Another pitfall criticized by the main Burundian opponent: the distribution of new cards which is due to end today is punctuated by numerous irregularities. Cards would be illegally given to the heads of the hills, all from the ruling party, who would then redistribute them to their only supporters.

Finally, Agathon Rwasa denounces the setting up of polling center offices, made up practically of only members of the CNDD-FDD party. " It is a disaster, " protested the Burundian opponent, speaking of a " flagrant violation " of the electoral code which provides for a composition that respects political balances.

Agathon Rwasa is getting impatient. He requests in his correspondence " a personal implication " of the president of the CENI in order to avoid irregularities likely to make lose all " credibility " in the electoral process. The man, who does not mince words anymore, denounced in one of his meetings a Céni who " is not polite " to answer his call.

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• Burundi

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