Burundian human rights commission says general elections held fairly

Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-24 11:41:29|Editor: huaxia

BUJUMBURA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The Burundian National Independent Human Rights Commission on Saturday evening said the general elections on May 20 were held in a "good and fair" manner.

"I confirm that elections took place at a time when peace, security and human rights were respected," said Sixte Vigny Nimuraba, chairman of the commission, in a press statement released in Burundi's economic center Bujumbura.

Nimuraba urged security forces to continue being professional in protecting human rights as they did on the polling day. He also called on political competitors to respect results of the elections once they are released.

Burundi voters went to the polls on Wednesday to elect a new president, members of the National Assembly, and district councillors. According to the agenda of the National Independent Electoral Commission, provisional results for the three polls are expected to be published on May 26.

Agathon Rwasa, a major challenger to the ruling party in the elections, on Thursday rejected provisional results released earlier in the day by a dozen of district electoral commissions, a small portion of the total 119 commissions nationwide, which showed the ruling National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) gained a large victory in the three elections.

The presidential candidate and chairman of the opposition National Council for Liberty party said the results are a "fantasy," arguing he has evidence that he and his party win in those districts.

Burundi plunged into crisis in April 2015 when the current president, Pierre Nkurunziza from CNDD-FDD, decided to run his controversial third term bid, which he won in July 2015. His candidature, which was opposed by the opposition and civil society groups, resulted in a wave of protests, violence and even a failed coup in May 2015.

The overall security of Burundi has improved, and the current situation is generally stable. Enditem

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