Share

Burundi opposition rejects referendum result

The coalition led by main opposition leader Agathon Rwasa said on Saturday it did not recognise the result of a referendum on constitutional reforms that could leave President Pierre Nkurunziza in power until 2034.

With provisional returns from all but one of the country's 18 provinces showing support for reforms that could see Nkurunziza, already serving a controversial third term, start two seven-year terms in 2020, former rebel Rwasa slammed the exercise as a charade.

"The electoral process has been neither free nor transparent, nor independent and still less democratic," Rwasa said in a statement issued by his Amizero y'Aburundi coalition.

 Fantasist results 

He added that he "rejects the fantasist results that could be proclaimed following this supposed vote."

The electoral commission (Ceni) has yet to confirm the result of Thursday's vote but a group of 15 public and private radio stations put the 'yes' votes from the 17 declared provinces as all topping 50%, rising as high as 85%.

Rwasa's coalition renewed allegations of "intimidation and harrassment" of its voters by the ruling CNDD-FDD party.

The party officially managed a majority even in traditional opposition strongholds amid claims the CDDD-FDD's Imbonerakure youth wing had forced opponents to vote 'yes'.

The United Nations regards Imbonerakure as a militia group that spreads terror among the population.

Amizero alleged that four of its monitors had been abducted and that others had been chased out of polling stations, threatened or jailed.

 Neither secret, nor fair 

"The vote was neither secret nor fair across the republic -- voters were accompanied to the booths and were urged to vote 'yes' by bureau officials and Imbonerakure," Rwasa charged.

Ruling party deputy secretary general Joseph Ntakarutimana on Friday dubbed as "exaggerations" the opposition accusations of fraud and massive voter intimidation.

Rwasa, former leader of the Hutu majority FNL rebel group, said it was vital to vote down proposals which he said notably forbade the formation of a group such as his coalition.

After a spell at the heart of the country's political institutions, including as deputy speaker of the national assembly, Rwasa has in recent months positioned himself as the focal point of the opposition.

Amizero y'Aburundi (Burundians' Hope) was created ahead of elections in 2015 which saw Nkurunziza, first elected by parliament in 2005, win a third, much contested, poll.

His announcement he was standing again that year despite being constitutionally limited to two terms sparked an attempted coup and a crackdown which cost at least 1 200 lives and left more than 400 000 homeless.

Critics say the referendum has struck a death blow to the Arusha peace deal which ended a 1993-2006 civil war and ushered in measures to ensure power would not be concentrated in either the hands of the majority Hutu or minority Tutsi, after decades of violence between the communities.

As well as allowing Nkurunziza to prolong his rule, the proposed changes also weaken constitutional constraints over the feared national intelligence agency and allow the revision of ethnic quotas seen as crucial to peace.

The new constitution would also scrap one of two vice-presidents and shift powers from the government to the president.

* Sign up to News24's top Africa news in your inbox: SUBSCRIBE TO THE HELLO AFRICA NEWSLETTER

FOLLOW News24 Africa on Twitter and Facebook

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should the Proteas pick Faf du Plessis for the T20 World Cup in West Indies and the United States in June?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Faf still has a lot to give ...
64% - 145 votes
No! It's time to move on ...
36% - 80 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.98
+1.2%
Rand - Pound
23.76
+0.8%
Rand - Euro
20.36
+1.0%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.39
+0.8%
Rand - Yen
0.12
+1.4%
Platinum
915.50
+0.4%
Palladium
1,008.50
+0.4%
Gold
2,324.57
+0.4%
Silver
27.36
+0.7%
Brent Crude
88.02
-0.5%
Top 40
68,529
-0.1%
All Share
74,489
-0.0%
Resource 10
61,532
+1.8%
Industrial 25
103,048
-0.9%
Financial 15
15,871
+0.2%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE