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Burundi President Wins 3rd Term in Election Boycotted by Rivals Burundi President Wins 3rd Term in Election Boycotted by Rivals
(about 9 hours later)
NAIROBI, Kenya — President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi was declared the winner on Friday of a national election in which nearly every opposition party boycotted the polls. NAIROBI, Kenya — President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi was declared the winner on Friday of a national election in which nearly every opposition party boycotted the polls.
Mr. Nkurunziza has been in office for 10 years, and his bid for a third consecutive term set off weeks of street protests, a violent crackdown, a failed coup attempt and widespread international condemnation.Mr. Nkurunziza has been in office for 10 years, and his bid for a third consecutive term set off weeks of street protests, a violent crackdown, a failed coup attempt and widespread international condemnation.
Critics of the president said that his bid for a third term was a violation of the Constitution and also threatened to undermine the peace accord that ended more than a decade of civil war in his nation.Critics of the president said that his bid for a third term was a violation of the Constitution and also threatened to undermine the peace accord that ended more than a decade of civil war in his nation.
Mr. Nkurunziza’s central appeal to voters was that, for the first time in 10 years, the country had been free of war.Mr. Nkurunziza’s central appeal to voters was that, for the first time in 10 years, the country had been free of war.
Pierre Claver Ndayicariye, head of the electoral commission, told reporters that Mr. Nkurunziza had garnered 69.41 percent of the vote. The man with the next highest vote, Agathon Rwasa, took 18.99 percent.Pierre Claver Ndayicariye, head of the electoral commission, told reporters that Mr. Nkurunziza had garnered 69.41 percent of the vote. The man with the next highest vote, Agathon Rwasa, took 18.99 percent.
There were eight names on the ballot, even though many of them publicly said they did not want to participate in the election.There were eight names on the ballot, even though many of them publicly said they did not want to participate in the election.
After the election, the United States issued a statement saying that the results would lack credibility. In a statement released Friday, Secretary of State John Kerry said the announced results were “the culmination of a deeply flawed electoral process marked by violence and a disregard for the civil and human rights of the citizens of Burundi.”
The political struggle turned violent in April, when the police clashed with protesters. Dozens were killed. In May, a former general tried to overthrow Mr. Nkurunziza while he was out of the country but failed. Mr. Kerry called on the government to work with “opposition and civil society leaders to reach a consensus on the way forward for Burundi to regain the trust and confidence of its citizens and the international community, and prevent even greater instability, refugee flows and violence.”
In the days and hours leading up to the election, nightly shootings and grenade attacks added to the instability. The biggest fear for many is that the unrest could quickly spiral out of control and lead to a new civil war that might draw in neighboring countries. The political struggle turned violent in April, when the police clashed with protesters. Dozens were killed. In May, a former general tried to overthrow Mr. Nkurunziza but failed.
The biggest fear for many is that the unrest could quickly spiral out of control and lead to a new civil war that might draw in neighboring countries.
More than 170,000 people fled Burundi in the months before the election.More than 170,000 people fled Burundi in the months before the election.
On Thursday, Amnesty International released a report condemning the actions of the government. “Burundian authorities repressed demonstrations as if they were an insurrection, and now the country appears to be on the verge of conflict,” the organization said in a statement.On Thursday, Amnesty International released a report condemning the actions of the government. “Burundian authorities repressed demonstrations as if they were an insurrection, and now the country appears to be on the verge of conflict,” the organization said in a statement.
The report found that police officers shot unarmed demonstrators as they attempted to flee and, even when children were present, failed to act with restraint.The report found that police officers shot unarmed demonstrators as they attempted to flee and, even when children were present, failed to act with restraint.
“Despite dozens of protesters killed, and a myriad more injured by police, the Burundian authorities have failed to investigate,” said Sarah Jackson, Amnesty International’s deputy regional director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes.“Despite dozens of protesters killed, and a myriad more injured by police, the Burundian authorities have failed to investigate,” said Sarah Jackson, Amnesty International’s deputy regional director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes.
“The government must suspend suspects pending criminal investigations and prosecutions to end this pattern of police brutality and impunity.”“The government must suspend suspects pending criminal investigations and prosecutions to end this pattern of police brutality and impunity.”