This archive report was first published on 20 May 2020.
As Burundians head to the polls today, the COVID-19 pandemic casts a dark shadow over the election process. The campaign period, marked by crowded rallies and disregard for social distancing, has sparked jitters globally.
President Pierre Nkurunziza's decision to hold the election despite the pandemic has been criticized, with the World Health Organization (WHO) representative, Walter Kazadi Mulombo, being expelled from the country. The move has raised concerns about the government's commitment to addressing the humanitarian crisis, including recent floods that have displaced over 40,000 people near the capital.
While the campaigns have been relatively peaceful compared to 2015, when President Nkurunziza's third term bid led to violence that killed at least 1,200 people and exiled 400,000, the activities of the ruling CNDD-FDD party's youth wing, the Imbonerakure, have left a lot to be desired. The opposition, led by Agathon Rwasa, faces an uphill battle against the incumbent's hand-picked candidate, Evariste Ndayishimiye, who is all but assured of victory.
Today's voting will be a litmus test for the country's ability to bring peace to its perennially volatile nation. As the world watches, Burundians will decide whether to perpetuate the old order or chart a new course.
