The presidential, legislative and communal elections are being held this Wednesday, 20 May 2020 without any international observers. Social networks like whatsApp do not work.
Burundians are voting this Wednesday for their new president without any international observer. According to SOS Médias Burundi, those of the East African Community have been informed less than 10 days before the elections that they will have to go through the isolation of 14 days. Time to close the loop.
On the morning of the elections, whatsApp enthusiasts are surprised to find that it does not work. A well done second round for a closed-door triple ballot.
Eight candidates are in the running. However, the main ones are Agathon Rwasa of the National Council for Liberty (CNL) and Evariste Ndayishimiye of the National Council for the Defence of Democracy-Force for the Defence of Democracy (CNDD-FDD).
The CNL presidential candidate, Agathon Rwasa, deplores the disruption of social networks, but remains confident. “It is not WhatsApp that votes,” he said. “This does not prevent the change tonight,” he added.
Evariste Ndayishimiye, candidate of the National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Force for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD), known as General Neva, says the elections are taking place in a secure environment. “The elections are taking place in security. Anyone who wants to disrupt them will pay dearly,” he said.
Since the eve of the elections, the patrols of the military armed to the teeth have been noticed in Bujumbura.
The media are working in synergy. The audio-visuals are hosted by Radio-Télévision Nationale du Burundi (RTNB). Those of the press at the offices of the government newspaper Le Renouveau.
More than 5,000 voters were expected at the polling stations. The turnout appears to be high. It should be stressed that these elections were totally financed by the Burundians themselves.
The outgoing President, Pierre Nkurunziza, kept his word. He did not present his candidacy after a contested mandate in 2015. The population organised demonstrations in Bujumbura against the mandate, which was described as third by the protesters. There have been deaths, disappearances, imprisonment and several hundred thousand departures into exile, including in his own camp.
Gérard Rugambwa
