Polls open in one-man Burundi presidential election

Serving president and sole presidential candidate Pierre Nkurunziza

Martin H via Wikimedia

By Judith Basutama

Some 3.5 million Burundians go to the polls Monday to elect their president for the next five years, casting their ballots in favour or against the ruling CNDD-FDD candidate Pierre Nkurunziza.

Nkurunziza stands in a one-man race after the opposition pulled out of the electoral process over allegations of rigging in communal elections.

The election will be held in a tense political and security climate, following the arrests of opposition supporters and frequent grenade blasts.

Fifteen members of the opposition Movement for Solidarity and Development MSD were arrested, as well as 32 FNL supporters after clashes with the police.

Analysts question whether turn-out will be high as potential voters have been subject to intimidation and even death threats, and opposition parties have call for a total boycott of.

In a message to voters Sunday, electoral commission chairman Pierre Claver Ndayicariye said the commission learned lessons from errors committed in elections in May.

The election will be monitored by national and international observers notably from the European Union, African Union and the East African Community.

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