Burundians vote in calm, despite opposition boycott

Burundians on Friday voted in the latest instalment in a chaotic series of recent elections. Several opposition parties boycotted the election, raising tensions. Victory is virtually assured for President Pierre Nkurunziza's ruling party.   

Sébastien Németh/RFI

People started queuing at the opening of polling stations in the early morning.  Police patrols have been intensified in Bujumbura, while the main beach on Lake Tanganyika was closed to the public and the voting has been relatively peaceful.

Seven political parties, including the main opposition Uprona, and two independent candidates are competing for the100 seats in the parliament’s lower chamber. 

Despite Friday's calm, fears of violence kept turnout low.

"For the moment, no disruption was reported," said army spokesman Gaspard Baratuza.

In May, official local election results gave Nkurunziza's ruling CNDD-FDD 90 per cent of the vote, prompting the opposition, led by rebel leader Agathon Rwasa, to cry foul and go into hiding.

In May 21 people were injured in a series of grenade blasts in the town of Kayanza in northern Burundi. Opposition parties were blamed.

On Friday, a heavy army deployment was reported at Bujumbura Rural, considered an opposition stronghold.

Baratuza denied that army forces were searching for Rwasa, saying the security forces were hunting for illegal transports of firearms from the Democratic Republic of Congo.