UNITED Nations (UN) Assistant Secretary-General for Africa Bintou Keita has expressed the intergovernmental organisation’s desire for peaceful, credible and democratic elections in Burundi.
Speaking during her meeting with the EAC Secretary General last week, the UN official said peaceful elections in Burundi were a prerequisite for political stability in the country and the East African Community (EAC) bloc as a whole.
According to Ms Keita, the UN had high expectations that the EAC will play a central role in ensuring peaceful and credible elections in Burundi.
“We are willing and ready to work together with and support the EAC in this endeavour,” she assured.
In May this year, Burundians will also exercise their democratic right five years after the East African nation got plunged into chaos ever since the incumbent embattled President Pierre Nkurunziza announced his intention of running for a third term in April 2015.
The country has witnessed political instability marked by violent clashes between government and opposition forces as well as the suppression of civil society, media and opposition groups – following the disputed decision by President Nkurunziza.
The political atmosphere in the neighbouring country led to the commissioning of the Inter- Burundi Dialogue (IBD), an EAC initiative which seeks to resolve political tensions aggravated by the controversial general election of 2015, under the facilitation of former Tanzania President Benjamin William Mkapa.
In his rejoinder, EAC Secretary General Ambassador Liberat Mfumukeko informed the UN delegation that the EAC observed elections within the context of national Constitutions of the Partner States.
He assured the delegation that preparations were underway for the launch of a longterm EAC Observer Mission that would monitor the Burundi electoral process in its entirety, as well as a shortterm EAC Observer Mission that would monitor the polling only.
The EAC Election Observer Mission, according to Ambassador Mfumukeko, is expected to enhance public trust in the electoral process by encouraging voters and political parties to participate in a free, fair and competitive environment, free of intimidation and violence.
“I am confident that the peaceful spirit we have experienced during party nominations will continue during and after elections,” said the secretary-general.
“The EAC is calling on all the people of Burundi to sidestep violence, regardless of the situation.” Article 124 of the EAC Treaty affirms the need for peace and security within the Partner States.
The Article further stipulates approaches for implementation to have a stable and secure environment in the region.
The Treaty further mandates the EAC to observe electoral processes in the context of the national Constitutions of the Partner States. In 2018, Burundi promulgated a new Constitution.
The May 2020 general election will be the first one under the new Constitution.
