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Unrest in Burundi As President Seeks Third Term

by VOA News July 21, 2015

Burundians voted in a presidential election Tuesday after a night of unrest sparked by President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid to win a third term.

Gunfire and explosions in the capital of Bujumbura left at least two people dead, one of them a policeman.

VOA's Central Africa service reported the capital was calm during voting hours Tuesday but turnout was very low.

Witnesses said polling stations were much busier in the president's home village of Buye and in other pro-Nkurunziza parts of the country.

The election went ahead despite an opposition boycott, months of anti-government protests and appeals from the international community for the president to step aside.

Critics said Nkurunziza should not be eligible to serve another term, but Burundi's constitutional court has ruled he is eligible because he was chosen by lawmakers, and not popularly elected, for his first term.

The U.S. State Department said Tuesday that by going ahead with the election, Burundi's government could lose legitimacy in the eyes of its people and might unravel the Arusha Agreement that ended the country's civil war.

It warned the U.S. will review all aspects of the U.S.-Burundi relationship not yet suspended, and may impose visa restrictions on those who promote violence.

Pre-vote violence

The protests have led to violence, including Monday night in the capital, Bujumbura, where explosions and gunfire were heard.

The opposition and the government blame each other for the overnight violence.

At least two people -- a policeman and a civilian -- were killed in a string of explosions and gunfire overnight.

​​United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on authorities to 'ensure security and a peaceful atmosphere during the election' and for all parties in Burundi to resume dialogue.

U.N. advisers are monitoring Tuesday's vote, which includes 3.8 million eligible voters, which close at 4 p.m. (1300 GMT).

President votes

Flanked by bodyguards jogging or walking alongside him, Nkurunziza cycled to a polling station in his northern home village of Buye, which was also filled with soldiers.

He lined up with others to cast his ballot, and before pedaling off, told reporters the election was to 'allow the Burundian people to vote or to choose someone they believe in.'

The presidential election follows a parliamentary vote last month that Nkurunziza's party easily won.

The opposition also boycotted that vote, which was criticized internationally for not being free or fair.

​​Opposition candidates have expressed the same about the presidential election, saying widespread intimidation and the threat of violence prevent the country from holding a fair vote.

Despite their pullout, the names of opposition candidates will remain on printed ballots, Burundi's electoral commission said.

With Nkurunziza as the only candidate, national electoral commission spokesman Prosper Ntahorwamiye said it is uncertain when the results will be announced.

Nkurunziza, 51, has been president of Burundi since 2005.

The political tension brought about by the election worries neighboring Rwanda, which has the same ethnic mix and suffered a genocide in 1994 that killed 800,000, mostly Tutsis as well as moderate Hutus.

More than 170,000 Burundians have fled the nation of 10 million to refugee camps in Tanzania, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Dozens of people have been killed in weeks of demonstrations, a failed coup and clashes between rebel soldiers and the army.

Some material for this report came from AP, Reuters and AFP.