Burundian presidential election, 2010
Encyclopedia
A presidential election was held in Burundi
on 28 June 2010. As a result of withdrawals and alleged fraud and intimidation, the incumbent was the only candidate.
, the 2010 election was a direct election by all voters, not by parliament. In early March 2010, the run-up to the election was called "explosive" due to a combination of demobilized former combatants and violence between youth activists in the ruling CNDD-FDD and opposition FRODEBU
.
Following the Burundi Civil War
, between the Tutsi
and Hutu
(similar to Rwanda
), the National Liberation Forces (FNL) were brought into the legal political sphere and were said to be the incumbent Pierre Nkurunziza
's most viable opposition. But through a campaign of intimidation in the run up to the vote, as well as alleging fraud in earlier local elections, all the other candidates withdrew from the ballot leaving just Nkurunziza. On 1 June 2010, five opposition candidates, including Agathon Rwasa
(considered the strongest contender against the incumbent), withdrew from the election, alleging that the government intended to rig it.
Following further similarities with Rwanda, ethnic tensions between Tutsi and Hutu were seen in the lead up to their own presidential election
. Bombings there were blamed on the Interhamwe.
The FNL were suspected of the grenade attacks, when local police searched the home of the party's leader, Agathon Rwasa
. However, the FNL denied involvement in the attacks and has said that their leader is being targeted for political reasons. According to party chairman Alexis Sinduhije
of the Movement for Solidarity and Development
, police also arrested six members of his party.
– comprising Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania – urged all parties to ensure a smooth and democratic election.
Towards the last days of September 2010, 14 bodies were founded gagged and bound. Authorities blamed "unidentified armed bandits," but also said "Twenty-two criminals were arrested and are detained in Mpimba prison [in Bujumbura] while 20 others were arrested in the Democratic Republic of Congo and are being interrogated." Police sources added that most of those arrested belonged to the opposition Movement for Solidarity and Democracy and the National Liberation Forces.
Burundi
Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
on 28 June 2010. As a result of withdrawals and alleged fraud and intimidation, the incumbent was the only candidate.
Background
Unlike the 2005 electionBurundian presidential election, 2005
The Republic of Burundi held an indirect presidential election on 19 August 2005. Members of the National Assembly and Senate chose the new president of the republic, who will serve term of five years. The sole candidate, Pierre Nkurunziza of the CNDD-FDD, was overwhelmingly endorsed as president...
, the 2010 election was a direct election by all voters, not by parliament. In early March 2010, the run-up to the election was called "explosive" due to a combination of demobilized former combatants and violence between youth activists in the ruling CNDD-FDD and opposition FRODEBU
Front for Democracy in Burundi
The Front for Democracy in Burundi is a progressive political party in Burundi.It was formed by followers of Melchior Ndadaye from the disbanded Burundi Workers' Party in 1986...
.
Following the Burundi Civil War
Burundi Civil War
The Burundi Civil War was an armed conflict lasting from 1993 to 2005. The civil war was the result of long standing ethnic divisions between the Hutu and the Tutsi tribes in Burundi...
, between the Tutsi
Tutsi
The Tutsi , or Abatutsi, are an ethnic group in Central Africa. Historically they were often referred to as the Watussi or Watusi. They are the second largest caste in Rwanda and Burundi, the other two being the Hutu and the Twa ....
and Hutu
Hutu
The Hutu , or Abahutu, are a Central African people, living mainly in Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern DR Congo.-Population statistics:The Hutu are the largest of the three peoples in Burundi and Rwanda; according to the United States Central Intelligence Agency, 84% of Rwandans and 85% of Burundians...
(similar to Rwanda
Rwandan Civil War
The Rwandan Civil War was a conflict within the Central African nation of Rwanda between the government of President Juvénal Habyarimana and the rebel Rwandan Patriotic Front...
), the National Liberation Forces (FNL) were brought into the legal political sphere and were said to be the incumbent Pierre Nkurunziza
Pierre Nkurunziza
Pierre Nkurunziza is a Burundian politician who has been President of Burundi since 2005. He is the Chairman of the National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy , the ruling party in Burundi, and also the current Chairman of the East African...
's most viable opposition. But through a campaign of intimidation in the run up to the vote, as well as alleging fraud in earlier local elections, all the other candidates withdrew from the ballot leaving just Nkurunziza. On 1 June 2010, five opposition candidates, including Agathon Rwasa
Agathon Rwasa
Agathon Rwasa is a Burundian politician and the leader of the National Liberation Forces . He was a Hutu militia leader during the Burundi Civil War.Rwasa was reported to be a Born-again Christian....
(considered the strongest contender against the incumbent), withdrew from the election, alleging that the government intended to rig it.
Following further similarities with Rwanda, ethnic tensions between Tutsi and Hutu were seen in the lead up to their own presidential election
Rwandan presidential election, 2010
A presidential election was held in Rwanda on 2010, the second since the Rwandan civil war. The incumbent President Paul Kagame, of the Rwandan Patriotic Front, was re-elected for a second term.-Background:...
. Bombings there were blamed on the Interhamwe.
Electoral violence
The day before the election three grenade attacks were reported in the early hours of the morning. Two were in the capital's Buyenzi and Kamesa districts, causing no injuries, and one exploded in the western town of Kanyosha, killing one and wounding two. The person killed was supposedly an official with the FNL. Another man was shot dead in Bujumbaura's Musanga neighbourhood in a suspected politically motivated attack. On election day, three more grenade attacks occurred in the capital Bujumbura, while two more exploded in the north of the country. In all, at least eight people were killed and more than 60 wounded since the opposition candidates pulled out of the race.The FNL were suspected of the grenade attacks, when local police searched the home of the party's leader, Agathon Rwasa
Agathon Rwasa
Agathon Rwasa is a Burundian politician and the leader of the National Liberation Forces . He was a Hutu militia leader during the Burundi Civil War.Rwasa was reported to be a Born-again Christian....
. However, the FNL denied involvement in the attacks and has said that their leader is being targeted for political reasons. According to party chairman Alexis Sinduhije
Alexis Sinduhije
Alexis Sinduhije is a Burundian journalist. He founded the Radio Publique Africaine as a means of bringing about peace between his fellow Tutsi and the Hutu in his often war-torn country...
of the Movement for Solidarity and Development
Movement for Solidarity and Development
The Movement for Solidarity and Development is a political party in the Republic of the Congo and in Burundi.-Congo:...
, police also arrested six members of his party.
International expectations
The East African CommunityEast African Community
The East African Community is an intergovernmental organisation comprising the five east African countries Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. Pierre Nkurunziza, the President of the Republic of Burundi, is the current Chairman of the East African Community. The EAC was originally...
– comprising Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania – urged all parties to ensure a smooth and democratic election.
Election
In the FNL bastion of Kanyosha, only a handful of voters turned out to vote, as compared to hundreds who voted in the local council elections just one month before. The chair of an international observation mission, Lydie Nzengou, affirmed during the day that the turnout was much lower.Aftermath
Rwasa went into hiding upon speculation that the government wanted to arrest him on charges of planning a new insurgency. He was quoted as saying that "They're (the government) looking for me because I told the truth, because I said publicly that I don't accept the results of the local elections. [Last] Wednesday they wanted to arrest me again. I got wind of it and I disappeared from circulation." It was presumed that he was in the Democratic Republic of Congo.Towards the last days of September 2010, 14 bodies were founded gagged and bound. Authorities blamed "unidentified armed bandits," but also said "Twenty-two criminals were arrested and are detained in Mpimba prison [in Bujumbura] while 20 others were arrested in the Democratic Republic of Congo and are being interrogated." Police sources added that most of those arrested belonged to the opposition Movement for Solidarity and Democracy and the National Liberation Forces.