{Burundi’s electoral commission (CENI) has proposed July 15, 2015 as the new date for the presidential election while parliamentary elections will take place as earlier scheduled on June 26.}
CENI chairman Pierre Claver Ndayicariye said that the proposed date was in accordance with the request of East African Community heads of state to postpone the presidential election by at least 45 days.
“The summit asked CENI to reschedule the elections so we have integrated it within 30 days and we need to work together with the stakeholders since time is against us,” said Mr Ndayicariye.
However, some opposition leaders who question the legality of CENI say that, as presently constituted, it has no authority to set election dates.
“We don’t have electoral commission for now. CENI now can’t take decisions since it doesn’t meet the quorum; the vice-chairman and the director of finance and administration haven’t yet been replaced so whatever they do is unconstitutional,” said Jean Minani, chairman of FRODEBU-Nyakuri party.
Two CENI members recently fled to neighbouring Rwanda for fear of their security and concern that the current environment doesn’t favour free and fair elections.
The electoral commission comprises five members; three are ethnic Hutus and two are Tutsi. Currently the remaining three officials are from the Hutu majority and are all male.
Meanwhile, the Burundi government has promised to disarm politically-affiliated youth groups who possess weapons illegally. This was as per a request by the recent EAC heads of state summit in Dar es Salaam.
“We call on the opposition and the civil society organisations to collaborate in the disarmament of the political-affiliated youths as this was raised as a major concern to the country’s security ahead of the polls,” said Burundi internal affairs minister Edward Nduwimana.
Mr Nduwimana said that the government together with the opposition are working to replace the two CENI officials who resigned last month.
However the secretary-general of Movement for Solidarity and Democracy (MSD), Mr Francois Nyamoya, said that his party members are being subjected to arrests by the Burundian authorities for the last two weeks.
“They are arresting our party members so how can we prepare for the elections when the environment is not free and fair for the opposition leaders?” he posed.
Africa Review
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