Burundi: President Nkurunziza wins third term amid unrest

Incumbent President Pierre Nkurunziza was re-elected for a third term with 69.41 percent of the vote, according to preliminary results released by the country’s official electoral commission on Friday.

Earlier this week Rwasa, leader of the opposition Amizero y’Abarundi coalition, said a unity government should be formed immediately to stop Burundi slipping into conflict.

The United States and Britain condemned the elections as not being credible because of violence, intimidation, media restrictions and questions over the legitimacy of a third term for Nkurunziza.

The country was plunged into turmoil in late April when Nkurunziza launched his drive for a third consecutive term, triggering widespread protests and a failed coup attempt in May. The opposition says Mr Nkurunziza’s bid violates the constitution.

In recent months, violence has been meted out by those on both sides of the political divide.

Nkurunziza pushed ahead with the presidential polls on Tuesday, though the vote had been branded as illegitimate by the global community.

The rights-advocacy group, in its report Braving Bullets – Excessive force in Policing Demonstrations in Burundi, said that authorities “repressed demonstrations as if they were an insurrection”.

Nkurunziza is seen as a shoo-in for another mandate after his main rivals boycotted the vote.

“We will not recognise the outcome of this election and the institutions resulting from it”, Frederic Bamvuginyumvira, president of the opposition FRODEBU party, said after Nkurunziza was announced the victor.

This photo, taken on July 21, 2015, shows members of the Independent National Electoral Commission counting votes at a polling station in Burundi’s capital, Bujumbura. “This is an election for Burundians and by Burundians”.

The weeks of protests and violence has forced more than 175,000 people to take refuge in neighbouring countries.

“The opposition doesn’t need to be overseas, where they keep on saying something is wrong in Burundi, trying to cut off aid”.