Re-elected
Nkurunziza wins a landslide victory, taking 69.41% of the vote, 50 percentage points ahead of his leading opponent. He will serve a third five-year term. The head of the national electoral commission (Ceni):
These presidential elections are a critical step for the population and the international community…I have always thought that the elections the Ceni is organising will not resemble those of Gabon, Mali, Nigeria, even less those of France, the US, Cameroon or Belgium. They are elections organised in Burundi for Burundians by Burundians, with challenges that remain our own.
Wins parliamentary election
Nkurunziza’ party – the CNDD FDD — wins 77 out of 100 seats in parliament, in an election that is boycotted by most opposition parties. The turnout for the parliamentary poll is low in the districts of Bujumbura where there are protests, but in some provinces outside the capital it is as high as 98%. The presidential election is scheduled for 15 July.
Purges cabinet
President Nkurunziza purges his cabinet, while protesters are warned that they will be treated as accomplices of the rebel generals who staged the coup. Defence Minister Gaciyubwenge is replaced by Ntahonvukiye, a lawyer who becomes the first civilian defence chief in 50 years. Foreign Minister Kavakure is replaced by Aime, a former ambassador to the African Union; while Trade Minister Ciza is replaced by Inantore. Spokesperson:
The president has powers under the constitution, including being able to change the government, He believes that the time has come and it is up to his discretion.
Protests over third term
There are clashes between hundreds of protesters and armed police in Burundi’s capital, Bujumbura over the nomination of President Nkurunziza to run for a third term, despite a constitution that stipulates the president can only serve for two terms. Nkurunziza’s party says he is eligible for another term as popularly elected president. The president’s backers argue that his first term should not count since he was picked by lawmakers rather than voted in. US State Department:
With this decision, Burundi is losing an historic opportunity to strengthen its democracy by establishing a tradition of peaceful democratic transition.