UN says Burundi presidential election was not credible

The UN Electoral Observer Mission to Burundi said on Monday night that the environment in the country was not conductive for an inclusive, free and credible presidential polls.

The mission’s preliminary statement in New York, came after Burundi’s President, Pierre Nkurunziza, won a third term mandate in an internationally rejected presidential election held on July 21.

The mission said that while the election was relatively peaceful, the environment was not conductive for an inclusive, free and credible electoral process.

This, it noted, was because the polls were preceded by weeks of violence and opposition protests.

According to it, there was profound mistrust between the opposing sides and Nkurunziza’s team.

The demonstrations against Nkurunziza led to no fewer than 80 deaths in the run-up to the presidential election.

More than 160,000 Burundians have fled to neighbouring countries, fearing attacks by the ruling party’s youth wing, the Imbonerakure.

Protesters said Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term violated limits set in the constitution and the 2000 Arusha Agreement, which ended a 12-year civil war in 2005.