BUJUMBURA, June 11 (ABP) – The Head of the African Union Electoral Observation Mission (AU EOM), Vincent Meriton, former vice-president of the Republic of Seychelles, issued his preliminary statement on Saturday, June 7, 2025, to commend the smooth conduct of the legislative and communal elections of June 5, 2025, in the Republic of Burundi.
The head of the AU EOM specified that the mission is made up of thirty short-term observers from 21 member states, including South Africa, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Morocco, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nigeria, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Tanzania, Chad, Tunisia, and Zimbabwe. Among them are an Ambassador accredited to the AU in Addis Ababa, a member of the Pan-African Parliament, members of Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), journalists, academics, and electoral experts from across the continent.
Moreover, he noted, the mission deployed ten (10) observer teams in the five (5) provinces of Bujumbura, Butanyerera, Gitega, Buhumuza, and Burunga, with the objective of engaging with stakeholders in the process to assess the level of preparation for the dual elections, monitor the end of the electoral campaign, election day, and the start of the post-electoral phase in accordance with international and regional norms and standards, as well as the national legal framework governing elections in Burundi.
The mission then formulated relevant recommendations to better consolidate democracy and the rule of law in the Republic of Burundi.
According to him, the elections took place in a generally stable socio-political environment, a peaceful security climate, and strong mobilization of candidates, political parties, coalitions in the run; and voters. This allowed for orderly electoral and civic participation, contributing to strengthening the popular legitimacy of the electoral process, which is essential for any democratic consolidation in the country.
The mission noted that all legally constituted political parties were able to freely compete for the expression of their citizens’ suffrage.
However, some political parties and candidates met expressed concern over an imbalance observed in the coverage by public media, which was deemed favorable to the camp of the outgoing majority. These allegations were contradicted by the ruling camp, which claims to have respected republican equality, transparency of the vote, and conditions for free, democratic, and fair electoral competition. They also consider that they showed “fair play” and responsibility, denouncing the lack of calm from their opponents.
Nevertheless, the mission identified operational challenges in some areas, notably the unavailability of poll cards reported by some voters, although in some cases voting was allowed upon presentation of a registration receipt, as well as slight delays in the opening of polling stations.
The mission did not fail to congratulate the Burundian state for funding the elections with its own resources.
It also praised the spirit of openness and cooperation that prevailed between it and other accredited international and national delegations, as well as the African diplomatic corps and Technical and Financial Partners (TFPs), who engaged constructively throughout its stay in the country.
The mission recommended that the government continue to promote inclusive republican dialogue among all stakeholders in the electoral process, to induce consensual reforms taking into account the concerns of all actors involved, in order to further consolidate “democratic peace,” the rule of law and peaceful elections in the country; and increase the financial, technical, and human resources of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) and other EMBs, so as to strengthen them for optimal organization of electoral processes; and considering adopting full gender parity in accordance with the prescriptions of Agenda 2063.
It also recommended that civil society strengthen civic and electoral education programs, particularly targeting youth and women, to better train them to continue their ownership of the electoral process throughout the entire national territory; to continue its advocacy for the consolidation of democracy, peace, security, and national stability necessary for holding free, regular, and transparent elections.
The mission then recommended that political parties continue their resilient efforts in favor of permanent dialogue to preserve democratic gains and initiate consolidating reforms to overcome existing divisions between them and to continue strengthening the capacities of their representatives to ensure the sustainability of their achievements aimed at performing their duties properly.
Finally, he affirmed that the African Union and the rest of the international community commit to strengthening their cooperation to support the progressive efforts of the Republic of Burundi aimed at further consolidating peace, security, and national unity, which are essential to sustainable development. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), candidates are competing for the votes of 6,015,122 registered voters, including 3,233,002 (53.75%) women voters and 2,782,120 (46.25%) male voters registered in the national electoral register for 14,103 polling stations.