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Burundi civil society will not recognize Nkurunziza's reelection
by Joseph Earnest July 23, 2015
Newscast Media BUJUMBURA—Provisional results in Burundi’s controversial presidential elections are expected on Friday. Ahead of the results, a civil society leader has told Radio France Internationale that he will not recognise Pierre Nkurunziza as president at the end of his current mandate. Rights group Amnesty International has published a report accusing security forces of punishing protesters for expressing their political views in a violent crackdown.
“The people are sovereign, sovereignty belongs to the people,” Vital Nshimirimana, head of the Forum for Strengthening Civil Society told RFI. He says Burundian civil society will not recognise Nkurunziza as head of state past 26 August 2015, the end of his current mandate.
This week’s polls follow months of protests in Bujumbura against Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term in office. On the eve of the election, gunfire and grenade blasts were heard in Burundi’s capital.
Nshimirimana says he expects violence to continue, pointing out that political opponents were “hunted” and “extrajudicial killings” took place after the 2010 polls. The civil society leader refers back to the coup d’état in 1996, saying that “all the reasons that have led to the violence are there again”.
The US, European Union and former colonial power Belgium have all said Tuesday’s election was not credible. African Union monitors have arrived in the country and are expected to report on possible violations of human rights. Add Comments>>
Source: Radio France Internationale
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