Two months to the local and presidential elections in Burundi, UN-appointed independent rights investigators have called the attention of the government as well as the international community to the upcoming elections which it claims could be marred by several cases of human rights violations, repression of political opponents and instability, jeopardizing the democratic process of the country.
Submitting its report to the UN Human Rights Council, the UN Commission of Inquiry on Burundi (COIB) called on the Government led by President Pierre Nkunrunziza to reopen the “democratic, civil and political space” there. “These are not only basic human rights, but they are also an absolute requirement for the holding of free, transparent and credible elections in a peaceful climate,” the three-member Geneva-based Committee reiterated in its report.
Doudou Diene who serves as a jurist and Commission president, lamented about the current situation in Burundi, explaining that the elections were taking place under a tense climate with no regard for human rights. Citing eye-witness reports which accuse the ruling party’s youth organization, the Imbonerakure of carrying out killings, rape and extortion, as well as a blatant disregard for freedom of speech amidst an increased media censorship, Diene said: “The government has continued to use the judicial system to silence civil society and the media. Human rights defenders remain arbitrarily detained…We are very concerned about the increase in hate speech with a political and/or ethnic dimension. This is circulating unrestricted on social media. We also note the silence of the Burundian authorities on this matter.”
The report is Politicised – Burundi Government
Reacting to the report, Burundi’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Renovat Tabu, said the report had been influenced by politics. He also stated that his government had gotten used to the regular smear campaigns consisting of defamatory allegations directed at it by the UN Defending his country, Tabu noted that Burundi remains an open and peaceful society with 10 candidates already registered for the election.
Four Candidates Disqualified by Electoral Commission
The Burundian National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) has also announced the disqualification of four candidatesout of the ten who had applied to run for the presidency, stating that they “did not meet requirements” set by the national constitution or the electoral code.
The four rejected applicants include Jacques Bigirimana for the National Liberation Forces, former President Domitien Ndayizeye for the Kira Burundi coalition, Valentin Kavakure for the FPN-Imboneza party and Anicet Niyonkuru for the Council of the Patriots party.
Burundi’s presidential, legislative and district council elections are scheduled to hold May 20, 2020.
